Heikki wants equality with Hamilton

Eurosport - Wed, 03 Dec 12:21:00 2008

Heikki Kovalainen has said he wants a new fuel strategy from McLaren in 2009 to give him the same chance of success as world champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

2008 Brazilian GP McLaren Kovalainen Hamilton - 0

Kovalainen said that the team was keen for him to run a heavier fuel load in the final phase of qualifying at each meeting to allow an alternative strategy for success, should the option for Hamilton be compromised.

As a result, the Finn finished the season back in seventh place in the points table and some 45 points shy of Hamilton's title-winning total.

"Only once was I lighter on fuel than Lewis, and that was at Silverstone, where I was on pole," the 27-year old driver pointed out to Switzerland's Motorsport Aktuell magazine.

"In all other qualifying sessions, I was fuelled more heavily - often the heaviest guy in the top six or seven. If I had been at the front more often, then I would have won more frequently."

Kovalainen managed only three podium finishes all season and was unable to help push McLaren into top spot in the constructors' championship.

While that created doubt about his position at Woking in the mind of outsiders, he said he was not under threat of losing his seat for 2009 - and warned that he will be looking for a change of direction.

"The team knew exactly what was taking place," he said. "It's something we have to look at for the coming year."

Kovalainen will return to the track when group testing restarts in Spain later this month. He is slated to run at both Jerez and the new Portimao circuit in Portugal before the end of the year, while Hamilton is not due to return to the cockpit until early January.

The new McLaren will be unveiled on January 16 in Woking.

Crash.Net / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 19 of 79

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  1. MAURICECHELEA you got it 100% right there

    From U R SOLES, on Thu 4 Dec 12:31AM

  2. Sounds like Heikki is still in Renaults pocket.
    We had­ to put up with the same type of sulking from another­ ex-Renault driver 2 seasons ago by the name of Fernando­ Alonso.
    They have both proved they are not the same­ class as Lewis Hamilton in an identical car.
    Give it a­ break its boring now.

    From Taz 119, on Thu 4 Dec 12:29AM

  3. Heikki is the new DC, only there to help the no.1­ driver win the title.

    From martin, on Thu 4 Dec 12:27AM

  4. you've no chance Heikki

    From barry, on Thu 4 Dec 12:27AM

  5. Funny how in addition to all the fuel loads that Heikki­ is complaining about he had to cope with all the­ mechanical and tire problems. Its rather odd isn't­ it that it only hit his car comparing to his teamate­ that was always problem free?

    From mauricechlela, on Thu 4 Dec 12:05AM

  6. Chris T, as I said in my earlier post, the stirring of­ the sewage definitely seems the likely source of this­ "story".

    From annaparker37, on Wed 3 Dec 11:40PM

  7. Sounds like sewerage (sic) stirring to me!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Wed 3 Dec 11:34PM

  8. dajstadas - "If they had equal treatment Heikki­ would have won another race or two and Massa would be­ champion today"

    Yeah you tell them dajstadas,­ bloody Mclaren compromising Ferrari and Massas title­ bid, this stinks of conspiracy, If I didn't know­ better I'd say Mclaren were paid off to stop Massa­ winning the title.

    Bloody corrupt Mclaren!!!

    From Scottish C, on Wed 3 Dec 11:24PM

  9. It's already been said in previous posts...

    TEAMS­ CANNOT PUT BOTH DRIVERS ON THE SAME FUEL STRATEGY!

    If­ they did, they'd both need to pit on the same lap­ and they would be queuing up behind each other in the­ pits, compromising the race and creating all kinds of­ hazards for the pit crews.

    Do you think Kimi &­ Massa had the same fuel loads and strategies?

    How­ often was Kimi nowhere in a race and in the dying laps­ he pops in the fastest lap and claims his 2 points for­ finishing 7th.

    These result were mid-season, long­ before the team had to get behind Massa for his title­ bid.

    TEAMS CANNOT PUT BOTH DRIVERS ON THE SAME FUEL­ STRATEGY!

    From Scottish C, on Wed 3 Dec 11:21PM

  10. dajstadas Don't you mean if Massa had won another­ race or 2. Do you really need another driver to win­ races so Massa can win the Championship. Says it all­ really about Ferrari can't win it themselves need­ others to help them.

    From BARRY, on Wed 3 Dec 11:19PM

  11. So much for McLaren treating their drivers equally.­ Poor Heikki is fighting Hamilton with one hand tied­ behind his back. They should let them have similar fuel­ load in 3 quali session and duke it out between­ themselves who will be on the pole. If they had equal­ treatment Heikki would have won another race or two and­ Massa would be champion today.

    I am surprised that­ drives don't have more say in what fuel load they­ want to run in qualifications?

    From dejan, on Wed 3 Dec 10:59PM

  12. Ron should repay Kovi's slavery with a shot at the­ title.ap37 heavier fuel load means slower time and­ faster tyre wear.

    From wizzo, on Wed 3 Dec 10:56PM

  13. Well said young Lady, can we count on you to cross­ swords with tifosi4eva in the coming season

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Wed 3 Dec 10:46PM

  14. Well, take away the excuses, and let's see what he­ can do.

    From pHilo, on Wed 3 Dec 10:42PM

  15. Next seaon put young Mr Lewis Hamilton on the heavier­ fuel load strategy, I bet he would get better results­ than Mr Kovailinen did in the circumstances. I agree­ with annaparker37, Mr Kovalainen just isn't as­ quick in the races as his team mate, especially in wet­ or damp conditions.

    From , on Wed 3 Dec 10:25PM

  16. Why thank you Mr Mac.

    From annaparker37, on Wed 3 Dec 10:04PM

  17. Heikki Kovaleinen, please answer this question-why were­ you chucked out of Renault after just one season?

    From edward, on Wed 3 Dec 10:03PM

  18. Anna I like the cut of your jib young lady.

    From BigBill, on Wed 3 Dec 9:57PM

  19. Even being on the front row of the grid wouldn't­ help Heikki as his performance in the actual races­ falls way short of Lewis'. I wonder if this­ "report" is another spurious one with the aim­ of stirring things up for Lewis and McLaren agan. I­ wouldn't be surprised if someone from Renault was­ supplying these "news" stories, like the one­ about Lewis' £200K number plate and his Virgin­ space trip.

    From annaparker37, on Wed 3 Dec 9:39PM
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