Kovalainen Heikki(Finland, 19/10/1981)

Heikki Kovalainen (born on 19 October 1981 in Suomussalmi, Finland) is a former Finnish racing driver with a long Formula 1 career, having competed from 2007 to 2013, achieving one victory, one pole position and several top-10 finishes in the drivers’ championship.

After years in karting and European junior categories, with success in the World Series by Nissan (champion in 2004) and the GP2 Series (runner-up in 2005), Kovalainen joined the Renault young driver programme and initially worked as a test driver.

He made his Formula 1 debut with Renault in 2007, finishing the season seventh in the drivers’ standings and securing a podium at the Japanese Grand Prix.

In 2008 he moved to McLaren, where he achieved his only career victory at the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix and also claimed his first and only pole position, again finishing seventh in the championship.

After two seasons with McLaren (2008-2009), Kovalainen continued in Formula 1 with Team Lotus and later Caterham, without adding further notable points finishes. In 2013 he also contested the final two races with Lotus F1 Team as a replacement driver.

After concluding his Formula 1 career at the end of the 2013 season, Kovalainen continued racing in other categories: from 2015 onwards he competed in the Japanese Super GT championship, winning the GT500 class title in 2016.

After professional motorsport, he has remained involved in driving activities and rallying.

GP Results

GP/Points Graph

Year	Team	Chassis	Points
2009	McLaren	MP4-24	22
2008	McLaren	MP4-23	53
2007	Renault	R27	30

* World Championships with at least 1 point won (since 2001)

Year	Team	Teammate	Win
2012	Caterham F1 Team (CT01)	Petrov V.	13 VS 7
2011	Team Lotus (T128)	Trulli J.	16 VS 2
2010	Lotus Racing (T127)	Trulli J.	8 VS 11
2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (MP4-24)	Hamilton L.	5 VS 12
2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (MP4-23)	Hamilton L.	4 VS 14
2007	ING Renault F1 Team (R27)	Fisichella G.	10 VS 7
Total			56 VS 53

Grand Prix	Team	Chassis	Pos.
Singapore GP 2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-24	7
Italian GP 2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-24	6
Belgian GP 2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-24	6
European GP 2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-24	4
Hungarian GP 2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-24	5
German GP 2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-24	8
Chinese GP 2009	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-24	5
Brazilian GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	7
Singapore GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	10
Italian GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	2
Belgian GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	10
European GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	4
Hungarian GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	1
German GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	5
British GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	5
French GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	4
Canadian GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	9
Monaco GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	8
Bahrain GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	5
Malaysian GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	3
Australian GP 2008	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	MP4-23	5
Chinese GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	9
Belgian GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	8
Japanese GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	2
Italian GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	7
Turkish GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	6
Hungarian GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	8
German GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	8
British GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	7
United States GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	5
Canadian GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	4
Spanish GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	7
Bahrain GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	9
Malaysian GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	8
Australian GP 2007	ING Renault F1 Team	R27	10

* Grand prix finishes in the top 10 (since 2001)

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