Lewis Hamilton believes he can be McLaren's "leader" next season
as he bids to bounce back from a year which saw the team dogged by
controversy.
Hamilton's rivalry -- and professional relationship -- with
team-mate Fernando Alonso dominated the season on the track while
McLaren's involvement in the 'spygate' scandal also gained some
unwanted attention off it.
But while he concedes that last season had low points he is
enthusiastic about building on what he still considers to be dream
rookie campaign in Formula One.
And with Heikki Kovalainen joining McLaren in place of the
departed Alonso, he also believes he could become the team's number
one driver -- a policy they actively distanced themselves from this
year.
He told BBC News 24: "Politics-wise it (2007) was a disaster but
that is the business, there is nothing you can do about it.
"You won't see a season quite like it again but I hope next
season is just as exciting without the politics.
"For me it's great, I'm almost seen as the leader of the team
and hopefully I can do the job."
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2007)