Kovalainen has the recognition of his leaders

According to McLaren F1’s Chief Executive, Martin Whitmarsh, Kovalainen has overcome the issues he faced at the beginning of the year and is now a much more complete driver.

The Finn secured his first victory at the Hungaroring in early August and claimed fourth place in Valencia last Sunday. Whitmarsh believes he is now capable of consistently fighting for podiums.

He claims that Kovalainen has learned to adapt his driving style based on the circuits where either a race or testing takes place. Consequently, he has overcome the issue of premature tire degradation that caused him so much trouble at the start of the season.

« Now, Heikki knows how to conserve his engine, his brakes, and his tires. He knows exactly when to accelerate. The situation he experienced at the beginning of the year is a distant memory, » said Whitmarsh.

He also acknowledged his ability to track down a rival during a race.

« The reality is that Heikki is particularly strong when he has a car in his sights. When he has a competitor in front of him, his competitive instinct comes to life! »