Heikki Kovalainen
The Stats
Name: Heikki Kovalainen
Nationality: Finnish
D.O.B October 19th, 1981
Series: Formula 1
Car: Lotus Cosworth T127
Watch Heikki's rise to F1 interview here.
The Basics
Kovalainen started his motor racing career in Karting, 1991, and did so up until 2000. He tried his hand in Formula Renault, Formula 3 and the World Series by Nissan before moving to Formula 1 in 2004, taking over from Fernando Alonso at Renault. In 2007 it was confirmed that Kovalainen would replace Alonso once again and drive for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes for the 2008 Formula 1 season alongside Lewis Hamilton. Bad news came for Kovalainen in November 2009 when it was confirmed that F1 Champion, Jenson Button, would be joining McLaren as Lewis Hamilton’s team mate. But, it was announced on the 14th December 2009, that Heikki Kovalainen would join Lotus Racing in 2010 along with Jarno Trulli.
The Big Moment
Kovalainen’s big moment came in the 2008 season when he was at McLaren partnering Lewis Hamilton. Frequently matching his team mate for speed in practices and qualifications, Kovalainen finally got his first win at the Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix 2008. He received a bit of luck when leader Felipe Massa retired due to an engine failure with three laps to go, but Heikki certainly deserved a win to his name.
The TV Show
Heikki Kovalainen first appeared on Mobil 1 The Grid in June 2009 when we caught up with him in Istanbul. We met up with him again this February at Lotus Racing and got his views on moving to join the new team, and what he thinks Lotus can achieve in the 2010 season.
The Quotes
Our favourite quote from Series 1 was when Heikki talked about where he and his team mate would like to be halfway through the season.
We asked, “Halfway through the season where would you like to be….. in terms of standings”
He replied, “Well, where I would like to be, I would like to be leading the championship and hopefully Jarno second, and if you ask Jarno, he’ll like to be leading and I am second.”
Interesting Facts
The first word that the racing driver learnt to say was “a car”, in Finnish. So it is to no ones surprise that Kovalainen got into motor racing at a young age.
The Details
Started out Karting
Started his racing career in the British Formula Renault Championships
Moved up to the British F3 series with Fortec Motorsport
Two years in the Renault-owned World Series by Nissan and won the championship
Competed in the 2004 Race of Champions and became the first non-rally driver to win the Henri Toivonen Memorial Trophy and earn the title "Champion of Champions".
Was a test driver for Renault in the Formula 1
2007 Made his debut in F1 at the Australian Grand Prix
Joined Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Won ithe Hungarian GP
2009 At the end of the season it was announced that Kovalainen would move to join Lotus Racing for the 2010 season alongside Jarno Trulli
2010 Looking for F1 victories with Lotus Racing
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