STUTTGART - McLaren must recruit a team player to replace Spaniard Fernando Alonso, Formula One championship runner-up Lewis Hamilton said yesterday.
"I hope whoever we have, we have a team player," said the 22-year-old Briton.
Double world champion Alonso, whose relationship with McLaren soured after he accused theteam of favouring Hamilton, left Ron Dennis' outfit by mutual agreement despite having two years left on his contract.
Hamilton said he had no idea who was favourite to be his new teammate.
"I think Nick Heidfeld has already been signed to BMW so I think there's Nico [Rosberg], Adrian Sutil and Heikki Kovalainen.
"They are all fantastic drivers and I know all of them quite well. If I could choose, I honestly don't know who I would pick."
Germany's Rosberg is at Williams, rookie compatriot Sutil at Spyker (renamed Force India for 2008) while Finland's Kovalainen has just finished his first season with Renault.
Alonso's exit has left Hamilton, winner of four races this year, as McLaren's effective team leader on the track despite his youth.
Renault chief Flavio Briatore says he has made Alonso an offer to return to the Formula One team with whom he won the 2005 and 2006 world titles.
"I have presented a project for the future to Fernando. If his desires coincide with ours, it can happen," Briatore said.
