He was set to be the next big thing, then Lewis Hamilton stole his thunder. Now Heikki Kovalainen is tipped to join him at McLaren. By STEVE COOPER
How does a rookie Formula 1 driver perform in the shadow of Lewis Hamilton? It's the unenviable question facing not just this year's current crop of F1 newcomers, but also the youngsters who'll arrive in the sport over the next decade. It's clear that every grand prix debutant must now generate huge and immediate hype if they are to justify their survival in the sport.
Doubtless it was also the question Heikki Kovalainen was asking himself back in early spring, as he watched Hamilton cantering towards his maiden grand prix win, and figured his own career momentum was running on vapours as he struggled to justify his existence as Fernando Alonso's replacement at Renault.