Formula One news

Kovalainen ready for Suzuka surprise

Of the twenty current drivers in Formula One, eight are yet to contest a Grand Prix at Japan's stunning Suzuka circuit. Having been replaced by Fuji Speedway, the Mie-Ken venue has been off the calendar since 2006 but makes a welcome return this weekend. Finland's Heikki Kovalainen looks forward to his debut at the track.

Having enjoyed his first F1 podium result with 2nd for Renault in his first Fuji Grand Prix, Heikki is less confident for similar success in his premier Suzuka outing for McLaren. "I had one of my greatest Formula One drives in Japan, in the wet race at Fuji in 2007 when I finished second behind Lewis (Hamilton), so I have some fantastic memories of the country," Kovalainen said.

Two of the final three tracks are new to the McLaren drivers

"While I'm really looking forward to racing at a classic race track like Suzuka for the first time, I don't think the circuit will be ideal for our package; it's a bit of a mix of places like Silverstone and Istanbul, with high-speed corners, and will require a car with good downforce and mechanical and aero balance.

"That doesn't put us off: the improvements we've made to the car over the course of the season have been genuinely remarkable and I think we still go to Japan confident that we can do a very good job." Heading to Japan, McLaren trails rivals Ferrari by just three points in the battle for third overall in the Constructors' Championship.

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