Stuttgart - Heikki Kovalainen could continue to partner Lewis Hamilton at McLaren-Mercedes next season, Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug said on Tuesday. "It is to be assumed that Kovalainen will remain with us," said Haug before adding that the Formula One team had "options" for next season.
"We are under no pressure and have no deadline," said Haug.
Kovalainen joined McLaren on a one-year deal this season as a replacement for Fernando Alonso. The 26-year-old Finn has accumulated 28 points from 10 races and lies sixth in the drivers' standings ahead of the weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.
Hamilton leads the drivers' championship with 58 points, followed by Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, who have 54 and 51 points, respectively.
