Feb.21 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen admits he was not ready for formula one twelve months ago, but has now set his sights on beating his highly rated new teammate, Lewis Hamilton.

The Finn had an appalling debut grand prix in Melbourne last year with Renault, but will return to Australia one year on hoping to give title protagonist Hamilton a run for his money at McLaren.

"I will do everything I can to beat him," Kovalainen, 26, is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

"I don't think I was physically and mentally ready last year. I hadn't prepared well enough. But I've already changed things to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Kovalainen insists that he is fully comfortable at the wheel of his new mount, the Mercedes-powered MP4-23; a car with which Briton Hamilton is hoping to improve on his runner-up spot in the 2007 drivers' championship.

"I'll be turning up for the first grand prix in Melbourne in a car I feel fully comfortable in and know exactly how to set up," he said.

"The increased confidence should enable me to have a good race," the Finn added.