| However the team has told me just to
relax, do the best I can and enjoy the opportunity. I will work hard to get good results."
Pedro de la Rosa will revert to his role as test driver for the team. Pedro has been racing for Team McLaren Mercedes since the
2006 French Grand Prix in July and achieved a number of points-scoring performances as well as a podium finish at the Hungarian
Grand Prix.
"I have really enjoyed the opportunity to race for Team McLaren Mercedes for the last eight races of the 2006 season," commented
Pedro. "However I have always been aware that the team might decide to give another driver the same opportunity, so the fact that
Lewis will be in the car comes as no surprise. Obviously I would have preferred to race myself but also understand why the team has
decided to put Lewis in the car. I wish him all the best and look forward to continue working with him."
Gary Paffett will continue in his role with the team working on the test and engineering programme alongside Lewis, Fernando and
Pedro.
“I am delighted to be remaining with the team, it is a fantastic racing organisation and I am looking forward to working with my
fellow teammates on our 2007 Championship challenge," said Gary Paffett. "As with any driver, there is always a desire to be racing
in Formula 1, however this was not possible. We had a number of other opportunities available and have decided that this was the
strongest option. I would like to congratulate Lewis on today’s announcement.”
"Since 1998 Lewis has formed an important part of our long-term strategy and we are pleased that we are able to help him take
another step and achieve his dream of becoming a Formula 1 racing driver," said Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO, McLaren Group. "Pedro
has done an outstanding job for us this season but we felt it was the right time to provide Lewis with this opportunity. It's
obviously going to be the biggest challenge of Lewis's career so far but it's one that we are sure he will be able to meet. He is
coming into the paddock for the first time as a Formula 1 racing driver and will have to familiarise himself with the pressures of a
Grand Prix weekend. However the confidence we have in Lewis's abilities and talent is clear from our decision to give him the
chance."
Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport commented how "Lewis is a gifted driver who proved his talent with two
consecutive title wins - 2005 in the Formula 3 Euro Series in a Dallara Mercedes and this year in the GP2 Series. McLaren and
Mercedes-Benz have supported Lewis already for nine years. He was half as tall as he is today when he started in karting.
It's clear that Lewis has less experience in comparison to the other 21 Formula 1 drivers in Grand Prix cars. However extensive
tests during the coming months will prepare him for his first season - I am very glad that a guy like him gets his deserved chance."
Lewis has been involved with the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme since its inception in 1998. He moved
through the ranks of karting winning various Championships including the 'McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future' karting series
in 1998. Lewis dominated the 2003 British Formula Renault Championship winning 10 out of the Championship's 15 races. In 2004 Lewis
competed in the prominent Formula 3 Euro series with Manor Motorsport, powered by Mercedes-Benz engines. In 2005, Lewis dominated
the F3 Euro Series Championship, in a car powered by Mercedes-Benz. On 8th September 2006 Lewis won the GP2 Series Championship with
the ART team at Monza in Italy, winning five out of 22 rounds, and on Wednesday 13th September Lewis tested the Team McLaren
Mercedes Formula 1 car for the first time at the Silverstone circuit in the UK. | 
