Despite McLaren’s recent denial, speculation persists that 1998 and 1999 World Champion Mika Hakkinen could line up alongside Fernando Alonso at the team in 2007.
Hakkinen, 38, retired from Formula One in 2001 but recently clocked up some miles at the wheel of McLaren’s sophisticated driver simulator at its Woking base.
Meanwhile, the Spanish newspaper Marca is now reporting that, at the Ron Dennis led team’s behest, Hakkinen underwent a physical examination in view of returning to the cockpit in the near future.
With Pedro de la Rosa and Lewis Hamilton also in the frame, the Mercedes-powered team is expected to announce its 2007 line up before the turn of the new year.
Marca claims that Hakkinen underwent the medical assessment on Monday, a week after chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said: “We currently have no plans to run Mika alongside Alonso next year. The identity of our second driver will be announced in due course.”
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