Heikki Kovalainen | F1 driver from Finland - Profile, Stats and Photo's of Heikki Kovalainen

Heikki Kovalainen

Team: Lotus
F1 Debut: 2007 - Australian Grand Prix

Heikki Kovalainen drives for the newly formed Lotus F1 Racing team in 2010.

Born in Finlannd, Heikki Kovalainen entered Formula 1 in a race seat in 2007 landing a drive at Renault by replacing double world champion Fernando Alonso. He had been the Reanult test driver throughout 2006 season clocking up over 28,000 kilometres.

He had a reasonable first season for a rookie but didn't set the world on fire. It started badly at the Australian Grand Prix but slowly the points trickled in from some top 8 finishes. His best result and drive of the year came at the Japanese Grand Prix in Fuji during a soaking wet race. Despite starting a lowly 12th position and the race taking place for many laps under the safety car, Heikki showed great race craft and skill on a day where many lost their heads and made mistakes (most notably Fernando Alonso smashing into the barrier at speed). He was running in second place with a few laps to go under immense pressure from Ferrar's Kimi Raikkonen and was able to fend off his countryman to take a well deserved second place, 8 points and his first ever podium in F1.

He was consistent if not spectacular for Renault and shares a record with Tiago Monteiro for most finishes in a rookie season - 16 to be exact.

After Fernando Alonso's troubled first year at McLaren, the Spaniard moved back to Renault leaving Heikki Kovalainen without a drive. After talks with Panasonic Toyota Racing and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, he signed with the latter to partner Lewis Hamilton for the 2008 season.

Often outpaced, he got one over on the British number 1 by beating him to pole position on home soil at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. His dream of an upset didn't last long however as in wet and treacherous conditions on race day he was only able to keep the on form Lewis Hamilton behind him for 5 laps, finally giving up the lead at Stowe corner to the delight of the thousands of fans around the circuit. Heikki found it hard that day, spinning twice and finally finishing 5th despite having the pole.

His maiden victory was only a few races away though. In the Hungarian Grand Prix, Heikki Kovalainen was second behind Felipe Massa in the closing stages of the race when the Ferrari engine exploded spectacularly on the pit straight promoting Heikki Kovalainen to first. Many say this was an inherited victory rather than an outright win which is true, but Ron Dennis was quickly on the radio on his victory lap saying "To finish first, first you must finish - good drive� and again, this is the truth.

Heikki's 2009 season was difficult. With an uncompetitive car and being out paced by his then team mate Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen was under immense pressure to perform if he wanted to remain a McLaren driver in the 2010. McLaren signed Jenson Button after he became available and Heikki is now a Lotus F1 Racing driver.

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