Anyone who cant compete on the same level would be a better partner for Hamilton. The last thing you want is to pair up a top driver (Hamilton) with another top driver. If you do this, you will have disharmony (Senna&Prost, Hamilton&Alonso). McLaren know this. At the beginning of 2007, they had no idea that Hamilton would be so good, so decided to have him partner Alonso, believing that there wouldnt be a problem. As the season progressed however, Hamilton's ego got bigger as did Alonso's paranoia. Ultimately, this led to serious disharmony.
Ron Dennis lied and stated that he isnt interested in having a team full of hugs and kisses and that he wanted a competitive team more than anything. When he let Alonso go, he proved this.
Heiki has no choice in the matter. He can either say goodbye to F1 or sign upto McLaren and follow Hamilton around the race track. And besides, Hamilton had already drawn up the shortlist and effectively chosen the driver he wanted to replace Alonso.
If McLaren were interested in scoring as many points as possible in 2008, then they wouldve kept Alonso and forced him to honour his contract.
Heiki will push him, though not nearly as much as Alonso. But then, Hamilton shouldnt need pushing. Like Mansell, Senna, MS and Alonso, top drivers dont need a team mate to push them to greater heights. Great drivers are pushed to the limits by their own will to win and not by team-mates.
) and they've won a bunch of world titles between them because of it.
