Articles Tagged ‘Heikki Kovalainen’

Lotus confirm Trulli, Kovalainen and Fauzy for 2010

Monday, December 14th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant

Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes with new chief executive Riad Asmat

Lotus have today confirmed their drivers for the 2010 Formula 1 season – Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen in race seats with Fairuz Fauzy the team’s third driver. The announcement was made by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

Trulli was left without a drive when Toyota left F1 at the end of the 2009 season. He is a veteran of 219 races, collecting 246.5 career points but just one win since his first race in 1997. He has driven for Jordan, Renault and Toyota.

28-year-old Kovalainen has been in F1 since 2007 where he raced for Renault before moving to McLaren for 2008 and 2009, before being replaced by Jenson Button for 2010. Kovalainen has raced in F1 52 times, collecting 105 points but only one race win.

Fairuz Fauzy, a Malaysian driver now on a Malaysian team at Lotus. 27-year-old Fauzy is a veteran in the formulae below F1. This year Fauzy finished 2nd in the World Series by Renault.

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Posted in Lotus F1, News | 1 Comment »

Raikkonen to McLaren one step closer?

Friday, November 13th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant

Kimi Raikkonen

It has been a rumour spreading for a while, especially after Raikkonen himself said:

“If I want to drive [F1] cars, then McLaren is the only option.”

But today it seems that rumour of Raikkonen rejoining the team he competed for from 2002 to 2006 may be one step closer to reality after the Finn’s management team were spotted at McLaren’s base in Woking.

McLaren have already confirmed Lewis Hamilton will drive for them in 2010 but that second seat is still up for grabs with Raikkonen and new world champ Jenson Button possibilities for the drive, as well as the chance Heikki Kovalainen may have of continuing with the British team he has been with for the last 2 years.

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Posted in McLaren, News | No Comments »

Lewis Hamilton on pole for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Saturday, October 31st, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton will line up alongside Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel for tomorrow’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit after setting an electrifying lap in Q3, more than 0.5secs faster than the rest of the field.

Hamilton set a 1:40.948 after the chequered flag had dropped in Q3 compared to Vettel’s 1:41.615. The fellow Red Bull driver Mark Webber will line up 3rd alongside Rubens Barrichello and World Champion Jenson Button will start 5th.

Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start 13th, despite topping Friday Practice 2, although this is because he suffered a brake problem in Q2.

Elsewhere it was a reasonably impressive qualifying session in BMW Sauber’s last ever Grand Prix with Kubica and Heidfeld making it an all BMW 4th row. They qualified 7th and 8th respectively.

Ferrari had another nightmare with Giancarlo Fisichella in particular, who will start last on the grid and Kimi Raikkonen who will start an average 11th on the grid.

It was a disappointing session for Renault as both of their drivers failed to get through Q1. In twice former world champion Fernando Alonso’s final qualifying for Renault he qualified 16th. His teammate Romain Grosjean will start 19th.

The full classification is below. 

(more…)

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Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Toyota, Williams | No Comments »

Driver’s thoughts on the new Yas Marina Circuit.

Friday, October 30th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant

Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi

Today was the first time there has ever been a Formula 1 session at the new Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on today’s Friday Practice day. I have compiled a few of the driver’s thoughts  on the new complex.

The McLaren team seemed impressed with the circuit, Lewis Hamilton who recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 1 said:

“They’ve done an incredible job here. It’s a really nice circuit to drive – there are a lot of technical corners, where braking stability is important. It’s a great track and I really enjoy driving it. The only bit I don’t like is the tunnel – but it’s a challenge!”

And the former world champion’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen who topped the timesheets in Free Practice 2 said:

“The circuit is cool – it’s very smooth with good grip and the kerbs are nice. Turns Two and Three are not easy-flat, but, with the good balance of the car, they’re fun.”

(more…)

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Posted in Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, News, Red Bull | No Comments »

End of an F1 Season – A Few Goodbyes

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger

With the 2009 Formula 1 season drawing to a close, there is the inevitable departures of drivers, team members, and in some cases – whole teams that needs to take place. Some will get reshuffled into new teams, some will go altogether, and some new blood will enter the paddock. Here’s a brief rundown of the F1 goodbyes in 2009.

Kimi Raikkonen & Fernando Alonso

Kimi Raikkonnen and Fernando Alonso

After 3 years with Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen is being replaced by Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen is yet to sign a deal with a new team for 2010, however he has been linked with a drive at McLaren and Toyota, the former being the most likely slot.

Raikkonen won the drivers world championship with the team in his debut year, as well as the constructers in 2007 and 2008.

There is also an outside chance the Raikkonen will leave the sport altogether. He has frequently mentioned when interviewed that if the right race seat doesn’t become available he will leave Formula 1 for good. We don’t think he’s bluffing…

Fernando Alonso also leaves his Renault team for the second time in his F1 career. With the team in disarray, Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore also gone, it makes complete sense that Alonso would want to move away. That said, there are some whispers that the Ferrari deal has been in place since last year, however it couldn’t be made then for whatever reasons.

(more…)

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Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, Renault, Toro Rosso, Toyota, Williams | 1 Comment »

McLaren Require a “Hungry, Motivated Driver” for 2010

Sunday, October 25th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger

Norbert Haug (Image Courtesy of http://www.vivelaf1.com)

Mercedes Benz boss Norbert Haug has warned any potential drivers seeking a seat with McLaren next season that if they’re seeking money, McLaren is the wrong place for them. Haug has been speaking to Autosport this weekend where he discussed the latest options for McLaren to replace the struggling Heikki Kovalainen, those being Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen is understood to be a strong contender for next season, however as we previously reported, Toyota are also currently chasing the Ferrari driver, albeit recently admitting he may be too expensive for them. Haug told Autosport,

“Kimi is an option, but there are lots of options around. One thing is for sure though – guys who are out for money are not the right ones for us – whoever it may be.

I won’t name anyone, but we want to have full commitment from someone who is success-oriented, not someone saying ‘I am a big name, pay me a lot of money and I will drive for you.’”

It’s hard not to read between the lines in the above statement – an obvious “name” he maybe thinking of would be Raikkonen, seeing as he has been playing hard ball already with Toyota. Haug continued,

“The team has to be convinced that a driver is hungry, motivated, focused, and that his first thought is not to get more money.”

Haug believes that any new potential driver has to realise what McLaren can offer them, rather than the other way round. Pointing to the latter half of the 2009 season, Haug was quick to note McLaren’s success,

“We have shown our level of competitiveness – Lewis [Hamilton] has scored race wins and podiums, and beaten the guys that have been going for the title this year.

It shows that we are going in the right direction. We have stabilised this year, and we have a seat to offer in a race-winning car. There are probably three, four, five teams maximum that can offer that.”

Next season will certainly be a tasty one if the trend continues from 2009. Both Ferrari and McLaren have seen massive improvements towards the end of the season – in addition Brawn GP, Red Bull and even the unlikely Force India have shown they can play with the big boys.

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Posted in McLaren, News | No Comments »

Kimi: “I Was Engulfed in Flames and Blinded”

Monday, October 19th, 2009 - Posted by Randhy Fazralimanda
Kimi Raikkonen has shed some light on his fiery trip to the pits at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver damaged his front wing during a first-lap collision and was forced to pit. The real drama, though, was yet to unfold.
Just as he started to exit the pit lane, Heikki Kovalainen moved in front of him with his fuel hose still attached to his car. Fuel sprayed out and the droplets caught fire right in front of the Finn.
Raikkonen revealed after the race that some drops of petrol ended up in his eye.
“What happened on the first lap ruined my race. First I was hit at the first corner, then when trying to pass Webber, I was hit and lost the front wing,”
He said.
“At the pit stop, I ended up with some drops of petrol in my eye, from the fuel line stuck on Kovalainen’s car and then I was engulfed in flames and blinded.
“I was going to stop, but luckily the flames soon went out. Even now, my eyes are still burning, but I’m alright.”

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen has shed some light on his fiery trip to the pits at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver damaged his front wing during a first-lap collision and was forced to pit. The real drama, though, was yet to unfold. Just as he started to exit the pit lane, Heikki Kovalainen moved in front of him with his fuel hose still attached to his car. Fuel sprayed out and the droplets caught fire right in front of the Finn.

Raikkonen revealed after the race that some drops of petrol ended up in his eye.

“What happened on the first lap ruined my race. First I was hit at the first corner, then when trying to pass Webber, I was hit and lost the front wing,”

He said,

“At the pit stop, I ended up with some drops of petrol in my eye, from the fuel line stuck on Kovalainen’s car and then I was engulfed in flames and blinded.

“I was going to stop, but luckily the flames soon went out. Even now, my eyes are still burning, but I’m alright.”

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Posted in Ferrari, News | No Comments »

Breaking: Trulli, Kovalainen and McLaren Penalised in Brazil

Sunday, October 18th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger

jarno-trulli

Jarno Trulli has been fined $10,000 for his behaviour after the “racing incident” that he had with Adrian Sutil during the first lap of the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix. Trulli was attempting an overtake of Sutil around the outside, however Sutil gave him no room, and Trulli soon lost control.

Once out of the car, Trulli immediately approached Sutil where they were seen having a huge argument on TV for some time, pushing and pulling each other as they caught a lift back to the pits.

The FIA deemed Trulli’s behaviour as “aggressive” towards Sutil and also that he failed to leave the track after marshalls had asked him to. He was therefore given a $10,000 fine.

Heikki Kovalainen was next on the hitlist for the stewards. McLaren have been fined $50,000 for allowing an unsafe exit from the pits after Kovalainen drove off with the fuel hose still attached. Fuel soon spilt all over the pit lane and onto the following Ferrari being driven by Kimi Raikkonnen, which instantly ignited. Kimi was engulfed in flames for 3-4 seconds before driving on.

Kovalainen was also given a 25 second penalty.

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Posted in Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Toyota | No Comments »