Formula One news

Kovalainen not worried for future

Heikki Kovalainen is both relaxed inside the McLaren team and not concerned for his future as a driver in Formula One. The Finn, now in his third season and the second with the Woking-based outfit, explains how morale remains high inside the team despite on-track performances being far below par in 2009.

Heikki realises that 2009 is a waiting game

Having clinched his first race win in Hungary last year, Heikki Kovalainen has had no chance of repeating the feat so far this season as both he and World Champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton struggle to reap the rewards of an ill-handling McLaren MP4-24. "I don't know why, but I never have had problems with my motivation," admitted the 27-year-old Finn, who has scored an average of only half a point per race so far this season. "I think if I had, it would be a worrying sign - why am I here at all? I am still trying to do the maximum and I just want to get back to the top."

After finishing 7th in 2008, Heikki currently lies 13th

With Hamilton encouraging the team not to rush development work, Kovalainen vows never to lose faith in the eight-time constructors' World Champions. "I think the team is doing a very systematic job of actually attacking the problem," Heikki continued. "I have spent quite a lot of time in the factory - both myself and Lewis have been there - to talk to designers and the people who are in change of next year's car and we shared our thoughts and views on what we thought the car was doing and what we thought it needed."

Personally unruffled by the media attention during a tough year for the team, Kovalainen sees no real changes in pressure from the inside of the garage. "People are always asking questions and it is about attacking the problem in a similar way," he described. "I think it is the same as it was last year, when there were not such big problems, and I didn't realise it or pay that much attention; now there are more problems, I try to be more involved with the team and see if I can help more and see how the team works - it is more impressive and it just gives me confidence that the team is capable of fixing this problem very quickly and getting back in the game."

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