Heikki Kovalainen
born 19 Oct 1981 · raced 2007–2013
Heikki Kovalainen, a Finnish talent, entered Formula 1 with a reputation for speed honed in GP2. His F1 career, spanning 111 races, saw him achieve his sole victory at the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, a highlight during his time with McLaren. While his raw pace was evident, particularly in qualifying, consistency sometimes eluded him. Later in his career, he became a key figure in the nascent Lotus Racing team (later Caterham), providing valuable experience and helping to establish the new outfit in the sport. Though his F1 tenure was relatively short, Kovalainen demonstrated flashes of brilliance and contributed to the development of emerging teams.
All-time records
Where Heikki Kovalainen ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- =24th in Most F1 Fastest Laps (2 fastest laps)
Top Teams
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg ptsAvg Points (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Hungaroring | 1 | 2.5 |
| Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 0 | 2.17 |
| Valencia Street Circuit | 0 | 2 |
| Hockenheimring | 0 | 1.33 |
| Sepang International Circuit | 0 | 1.17 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 0 | 1 |
| Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | 0 | 1 |
| Bahrain International Circuit | 0 | 0.8 |
| Nürburgring | 0 | 0.67 |
| Shanghai International Circuit | 0 | 0.67 |
Points are Grand Prix points as awarded at the time (sprints excluded); average points are per race started.
Most-shared teammates. Each link opens their head-to-head.
- Jarno Trulli35 shared races · Compare with Jarno Trulli (2011)
- Lewis Hamilton35 shared races · Compare with Lewis Hamilton (2008)
- Vitaly Petrov19 shared races · Compare with Vitaly Petrov (2012)
- Giancarlo Fisichella17 shared races · Compare with Giancarlo Fisichella (2007)
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Caterham | Kovalainen vs PetrovHeikki Kovalainen vs Vitaly Petrov | 9–10 |
| 2011 | Lotus | Kovalainen vs TrulliHeikki Kovalainen vs Jarno Trulli | 11–7 |
| 2010 | Lotus | Kovalainen vs TrulliHeikki Kovalainen vs Jarno Trulli | 13–4 |
| 2009 | McLaren | Hamilton vs KovalainenLewis Hamilton vs Heikki Kovalainen | 12–5 |
| 2008 | McLaren | Hamilton vs KovalainenLewis Hamilton vs Heikki Kovalainen | 12–6 |
| 2007 | Renault | Fisichella vs KovalainenGiancarlo Fisichella vs Heikki Kovalainen | 5–12 |
20 circuitsShow all▾
- Hungaroring
- Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
- Valencia Street Circuit
- Hockenheimring
- Sepang International Circuit
- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
- Silverstone Circuit
- Bahrain International Circuit
- Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Shanghai International Circuit
- Nürburgring
- Istanbul Park
- Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
- Marina Bay Street Circuit
- Autódromo José Carlos Pace
- Circuit de Monaco
- Suzuka Circuit
- Yas Marina Circuit
- Korean International Circuit
20132 racesLotus F1▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | P14 | 0 | |
| 8 | P15 | 0 |
Earlier seasons2007–2012 (6 seasons)▾
201220 racesCaterham▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | P14 | 0 | |
| 22 | P18 | 0 | |
| 18 | P13 | 0 | |
| 20 | P18 | 0 | |
| 19 | P17 | 0 | |
| 17 | P15 | 0 | |
| 19 | P15 | 0 | |
| 17 | P14 | 0 | |
| 18 | P17 | 0 | |
| 19 | P17 | 0 | |
| 16 | P19 | 0 | |
| 19 | P17 | 0 | |
| 16 | P14 | 0 | |
| 17 | P18 | 0 | |
| 17 | P13 | 0 | |
| 19 | P16 | 0 | |
| 16 | P17 | 0 | |
| 18 | P237 places worse than season average (P16.5) | 0 | |
| 24 | P18 | 0 | |
| 18 | Suspension | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Heikki Kovalainen’s average finish in 2012 (P16.5, retirements excluded).
201119 racesLotus▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | P16 | 0 | |
| 17 | P17 | 0 | |
| 18 | P14 | 0 | |
| 19 | P14 | 0 | |
| 18 | P18 | 0 | |
| 19 | P16 | 0 | |
| 20 | P13 | 0 | |
| 16 | P15 | 0 | |
| 18 | Water leak | 0 | |
| 18 | P16 | 0 | |
| 17 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 19 | P19 | 0 | |
| 19 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 17 | P14 | 0 | |
| 15 | Accident | 0 | |
| 18 | P19 | 0 | |
| 19 | P16 | 0 | |
| 19 | P15 | 0 | |
| 19 | Water leak | 0 |
201019 racesLotus▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | P17 | 0 | |
| 20 | P18 | 0 | |
| 21 | P13 | 0 | |
| 20 | P12 | 0 | |
| 19 | P16 | 0 | |
| 18 | P18 | 0 | |
| 13 | P16 | 0 | |
| 19 | P14 | 0 | |
| 18 | Collision | 0 | |
| 18 | P17 | 0 | |
| 20 | Collision | 0 | |
| 19 | P16 | 0 | |
| 20 | Hydraulics | 0 | |
| 18 | Steering | 0 | |
| 20 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 21 | P14 | 0 | |
| 15 | +10 Laps | 0 | |
| 19 | P13 | 0 | |
| 21 | P15 | 0 |
200917 racesMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | P11 | 0 | |
| 16 | P9 | 0 | |
| 11 | P11 | 0 | |
| 8 | P7 | 2 | |
| 4 | P6 | 3 | |
| 15 | P6 | 3 | |
| 2 | P44 places better than season average (P8.2) | 5 | |
| 6 | P5 | 4 | |
| 6 | P8 | 1 | |
| 13 | Collision | 0 | |
| 14 | P146 places worse than season average (P8.2) | 0 | |
| 7 | Accident | 0 | |
| 18 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 11 | P12 | 0 | |
| 12 | P5 | 4 | |
| 14 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 12 | Collision | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Heikki Kovalainen’s average finish in 2009 (P8.2, retirements excluded).
200818 races, 1 winMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | P7 | 2 | |
| 5 | Hydraulics | 0 | |
| 3 | Engine | 0 | |
| 5 | P104 places worse than season average (P6.0) | 0 | |
| 2 | P24 places better than season average (P6.0) | 8 | |
| 3 | P104 places worse than season average (P6.0) | 0 | |
| 5 | P4 | 5 | |
| 2 | P15 places better than season average (P6.0) | 10 | |
| 3 | P5 | 4 | |
| 1 | P5 | 4 | |
| 10 | P4 | 5 | |
| 7 | P9 | 0 | |
| 4 | P8 | 1 | |
| 2 | P126 places worse than season average (P6.0) | 0 | |
| 6 | Accident | 0 | |
| 5 | P5 | 4 | |
| 8 | P3 | 6 | |
| 3 | P5 | 4 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Heikki Kovalainen’s average finish in 2008 (P6.0, retirements excluded).
200717 racesRenault▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Accident | 0 | |
| 13 | P9 | 0 | |
| 11 | P26 places better than season average (P7.9) | 8 | |
| 9 | P8 | 1 | |
| 7 | P7 | 2 | |
| 7 | P6 | 3 | |
| 11 | P8 | 1 | |
| 7 | P8 | 1 | |
| 7 | P7 | 2 | |
| 6 | P157 places worse than season average (P7.9) | 0 | |
| 6 | P5 | 4 | |
| 22 | P4 | 5 | |
| 15 | P135 places worse than season average (P7.9) | 0 | |
| 8 | P7 | 2 | |
| 12 | P9 | 0 | |
| 11 | P8 | 1 | |
| 13 | P10 | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Heikki Kovalainen’s average finish in 2007 (P7.9, retirements excluded).