Kovalainen predicts no problems at McLaren

McLaren confirmed on Friday that Kovalainen will join McLaren as Hamilton's teammate, taking the spot left by double champion Fernando Alonso.

Alonso had a torrid relationship with the team during 2007 and the Spaniard eventually left two years before the end of his contract.

Briton Hamilton has been backed by McLaren for over a decade, but Finn Kovalainen reckons his teammate's relationship with the team will cause him no problems.

"Not at all," said Kovalainen. "It's up to me to build relationships with the team and the people around me, and I know everybody is excited about me joining, so I don't think that will be a problem at all.

"The one thing that has struck me so far is just how professional and dedicated the team is, and I know they will work so hard to give me the best opportunity.

"Also after the 2007 season I don't think there can be any doubt that the team is totally committed to equality amongst its drivers and I like that," he added.

Kovalainen also said Alonso's problems with the team this year did not worry him at all.

"Not in the slightest. It's not for me to judge what went wrong with Fernando and the team and I am really not interested. All I can say is how I feel about my opportunity and I am really excited and happy."