'Rosberg, Sutil or Kovalainen to succeed Alonso'

STUTTGART:  British Formula One star Lewis Hamilton said on Saturday Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil or Heikki Kovalainen are the main contenders to replace Spaniard Fernando Alonso at McLaren-Mercedes.   

"Rosberg, Sutil or Kovalainen," said Hamilton, who finished runner-up in this year's world drivers championships behind Alonso, when asked who his team-mate would be next season.   

"The important thing is that he is a team player," added Hamilton after his very public falling-out this season with double world champion Alonso before the Spaniard quit Mercedes-McClaren on Friday.   

German Rosberg, the son of Finland's 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, is under contract with Williams and is the favourite to join the British team having finished ninth in the 2007 championships.   

Hamilton's friend Sutil is also amongst the favourites as is Renault driver, Finland's Kovalainen, who took 7th place in the championships with 30 points.   

Norbert Haug, the boss of Mercedes Sport, refused to name Alonso's successor and said "the team will find it's best solution to the issue."