Heikki Kovalainen

Reemz27 · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: Heikki in McLaren

I couldn't find a topic about Heikki in this area, so i decided to make one myself!

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Reemz27

Quote:

Heikki Kovalainen believes McLaren's approach to the 2008 season cost him race wins.

We reported recently that the Finn was seeking winter talks with the British team's bosses, after he usually went into the decisive 'Q3' phase of qualifying with a higher fuel load than team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Now, in a candid interview with the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, Kovalainen has confirmed that some behind-the-scenes goings-on during his first season with McLaren often made 'good results impossible'.

"Only once was I lighter than Lewis," said Kovalainen "and that was at Silverstone, where I was on the pole. In all the other qualifyings I was fuelled more heavily. I was often the heaviest guy in the top six or seven.
"

"Obviously this has an effect also in the race," he insisted, pointing out the compromise in track position, tyre wear, and time lost in traffic.

When rumours began gathering pace that Kovalainen's seemingly lacklustre performances this year might threaten his seat for 2009, the Finn said he had no doubt about his position.

"The team knew exactly what was taking place," he said. "If I had been at the front more often, then I would have won more frequently."

"So that's something we have to look at for the coming year," Kovalainen said.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/081203093857.shtml

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Icemans biggest fan · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:10 am Post subject:

and that´s exactly why I think that Heikki should act the same as Fernando did to McLaren Confused

palalabu · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

Quote:

and that´s exactly why I think that Heikki should act the same as Fernando did to McLaren

Well, personally, I think he shouldn't go as far as what Fernando did. It doesn't suit his personality anyway, i think. But i do wish he speaks more about this issues. I'm definitely not 100% happy with him in McLaren, under this condition. Confused

Reemz27 · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:57 am Post subject:

Icemans biggest fan wrote:

and that´s exactly why I think that Heikki should act the same as Fernando did to McLaren Confused

Yes, That just keeps popping up in my head

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Reemz27 · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:00 am Post subject:

palalabu wrote:

Well, personally, I think he shouldn't go as far as what Fernando did. It doesn't suit his personality anyway, i think. But i do wish he speaks more about this issues. I'm definitely not 100% happy with him in McLaren, under this condition. Confused

Agreed!

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ellen777 · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:13 am Post subject:

i think he really should have spoken out earlier about this issue coz its so unfair

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YAY FOR FORMULA 1!!!

Spaniard · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

Time is very wise.

We should have a conversation in December 2009, maybe we can laugh at all this... ''stuff'' Rolling Eyes

I hope I will

Reemz27

Quote:

Heikki Kovalainen wants the chance to chase pole position and run at the front of the F1 field in 2009, after feeling he had been held back by McLaren last season.

Heikki Kovalainen is hoping that he will be given the same chance of success as world champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton when the pair line up for the 2009 Formula One season, after claiming that he was hampered by McLaren's tactics in his first season with the team.

Although he refused to speak out during the year, Kovalainen has since revealed that the team was keen for him to run a heavier fuel load in the final phase of qualifying to give it an alternative strategy for success should the option for Hamilton be compromised. As a result, the Finn appeared to be overshadowed by his team-mate in terms of results, eventually finishing the season back in seventh place in the points table and some 45 points shy of Hamilton's title-winning total.

While he insists that he had no doubt that he would be retained by McLaren for 2009, Kovalainen is keen to iron out an understanding that will give him the same opportunity to run at the front of the field in races. He won only one grand prix in 2008 - a race handed to him by Felipe Massa's engine failure three laps from home in Hungary - and did not always take the opportunities presented to him elsewhere - such as Barcelona and Monza - but insists that, had he been able to qualifying on similar fuel loads to his team-mate, things could have been different.

"Only once was I lighter on fuel than Lewis, and that was at Silverstone, where I was on the pole," the 27-year old pointed out to Switzerland's Motorsport Aktuell magazine, "In all other qualifying sessions, I was fuelled more heavily - often the heaviest guy in the top six or seven. If I had been at the front more often, then I would have won more frequently."

Having to battle through the pack on circuits not always conducive to overtaking and with a heavier fuel load that made his task even harder, Kovalainen managed only three podium finishes all season, and was unable to help push McLaren into top spot in the constructors' championship. While that created doubt about his position at Woking in the mind of outsiders, the Finn claims that he was not under threat of losing his seat for 2009.

"The team knew exactly what was taking place," he said, underlining the fact that the tactic was deliberate rather than the result of miscalculation or poor qualifying performance, "and it's something we have to look at for the coming year."

Kovalainen is currently en route to a team training camp in his native Finland, but will be back on track for the first time when group testing restarts in Spain later this month. He is slated to run at both Jerez and the new Portimao circuit in Portugal before the end of the year, while Hamilton is not due to return to the cockpit until early January. The new McLaren will be unveiled on 16 January in Woking.
http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/172325-0/kovalainen_seeks_equal_chance_in_09.html

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Reemz27

Code:

Source/Credit - GMM

He will begin the 2009 season with the reigning world champion as his team-mate, but Heikki Kovalainen insists he does not feel beaten already.

"Yes, it could be easier, but it doesn't bother me in the least," he answered, when asked how it will feel to line up on the 2009 Formula One grid wearing the number '2'.

Finn Kovalainen, 27, has been retained by McLaren for a second season next year alongside Lewis Hamilton.

To the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, he said the situation even gives him an incentive.

"I could say it works the other way, if i beat my team-mate, I know i must be quick and doing something right" said Kovalainen.

However, he had a difficult 2008 season after switching from Renault, and is disappointed with the outcome.

"Finishing seventh in the drivers' championship table is really not a good enough performance in a car of that quality." he admitted

"When it comes down to it, my position was the same as i achieved a year earlier in a noticeably less competitive car."
[size=7]http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9045&Itemid=219 [/size]

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Reemz27 · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:25 pm Post subject: Pioneering: Singapore GP

Quote:

Colin Syn, chairman of the Singapore GP,
received the award from McLaren driver
Heikki Kovalainen on behalf of the race.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72391

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palalabu · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

thanks reemz for letting me know about the Autosport Award ^^

But they only have one picture of Heikki T_____T *the gallery is like Lewis fest*

Reemz27

Quote:

Heikki Kovalainen admits he is dying to get back behind the wheel of his McLaren.

Although the Finn won his maiden grand prix in Hungary in August, he still had a disappointing 2008 season. He finished seventh in the Drivers' Championship, behind BMW duo Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld.

Kovalainen, though, is raring to go and he will be testing for McLaren in Spain and Portugal over the next couple of weeks.

"After the training camp, I'm really looking forward to getting back in the car after a month out of the cockpit," the Finn said.

"I'm testing in Jerez and Portimao later this month and then preparing over Christmas for my first taste of the MP4-24.

"For me, 2009 can't start soon enough and I'm really looking forward to beginning I'm really looking to getting back in the car and understanding how the new regulations will affect the drivers. I can't wait to get started."
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4588257,00.html

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Reemz27 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject: Heikki Kovalainen on high seas

it's very long so i suggest you reading it from the original web page:

Only registered users can see links on this forum!
Register or Login on forum!

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Reemz27 · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 6:17 am Post subject: Testing in March

Heikki is scheduled to return to the McLaren cockpit at the start of March, when testing continues at Jerez.

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