Hamilton: Kovalainen not showing his cards

The Finn, who joined from Renault in a straight swap with double world champion Fernando Alonso, played down his chances of taking pole position or winning Sunday's Formula One season-opener.

Hamilton, who won four races in a sensational rookie season last year, suggested Kovalainen was being too modest.

"I think he's not showing his cards yet and he's playing it down a little. Everyone knows that he is very, very competitive. At least I do and he's got a great talent," the 23-year-old Briton told reporters.

"I am sure he's going to be pushing me just as much as I push him."

The Briton, who fell out spectacularly with Spaniard Alonso last year, said his relationship with the Finn "couldn't be better".

"He's been a lot more active in the team than any other driver I've seen," he added.

"We've been playing tennis, basketball and we've done our fitness trip together. It's great to see him participating in everything."

Team boss Ron Dennis, who arrived in Melbourne on Thursday morning after pondering his future and deciding to carry on as principal, agreed, but injected a note of caution after the trauma of 2007.

"It will be interesting to see if their friendship is as strong when they start beating each other as it is now," he said.

Hamilton said last year's troubles, with McLaren fined a record $100 million and stripped of all their constructors' points for a spying controversy over Ferrari data, had strengthened the team.

"I think McLaren as a team are definitely stronger than they were last year," he said.

"I feel this year they made quite a big step up from last year with everything they went through, they really managed to pull their socks up and keep going."

"I feel slightly more confident this year because I've seen the development of the car and seen how hard the team have worked," he added.

Hamilton said he felt less pressure as he prepared for his second season in Formula One, despite huge expectations.

"I'm chasing the same dream but I guess in a slightly different way that I probably cannot describe," he said.

"It still feels fresh, new and very much something I've always wanted to do. I still feel I've just got over my rookie badge."