Drivers/Finland
Heikki Kovalainen
- 2007–2013
- KOV
- Born 19 October 1981 in Suomussalmi
- Heikki Johannes Kovalainen
- Starts111112 entries
- Wins11% of starts
- Podiums44% of starts
- Pole positions11× started from P1
- Fastest laps2
- Titles0best finish P7
Career numbers
- Avg grid position13.7
- Avg finish11.9
- Retirement rate18%
- Pole-to-win conversion0%
- Positions gained+148
- Points scored105
- Longest winning streak1
- Longest podium streak1
- Longest points-scoring streak7
- TeamsRenault (2007) · McLaren (2008–2009) · Lotus Racing (2010–2011) · Caterham (2012) · Lotus (2013)
Pole position means the fastest time in qualifying. That is not the same as a start from P1 – grid penalties move a driver down the grid. Up to the 2000s the two numbers coincide.
The career at a glance
Season by season
Every race
112 entries, 111 of them started. DNQ: did not qualify; DNS: did not start; DNF: retired.
- First entryAustralian Grand Prix 2007P10 · Renault
- First winHungarian Grand Prix 2008P1 · McLaren
- Last startBrazilian Grand Prix 2013P14 · Lotus
All 112 races, season by season
Against team-mates
Same car, same races. In the race only those where both reached the finish count – a retirement says nothing about the head-to-head.
| Team-mate | Years | Races | Qualifying | Quali gap | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | 2008–2009 | 8:16 | 9:26 | +0.31% | 75 : 147 | Compare |
| Jarno Trulli | 2010–2011 | 14:4 | 23:12 | −0.09% | 0 : 0 | Compare |
| Vitaly Petrov | 2012 | 7:10 | 13:6 | −0.24% | 0 : 0 | Compare |
| Giancarlo Fisichella | 2007 | 9:5 | 9:8 | −0.07% | 30 : 21 | Compare |
| Romain Grosjean | 2013 | 0:1 | 0:2 | – | 0 : 18 | Compare |
| Karun Chandhok | 2011 | 1:0 | 1:0 | – | 0 : 0 | Compare |
Green: Heikki Kovalainen came out ahead in that duel. Quali gap: the median difference in the last session both set a time in, as a share of the lap – minus is faster. At least three sessions; a dash where there were fewer.
Strongest circuits
Circuits with at least two starts, most wins first.
| Circuit | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungaroring | 6 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| José Carlos Pace | 7 | 13.5 | ||
| Albert Park | 6 | 9.3 | ||
| Sepang | 6 | 1 | 11 | |
| Monaco | 6 | 12 | ||
| Silverstone | 6 | 11.5 | ||
| Monza | 6 | 1 | 10 | |
| Spa-Francorchamps | 6 | 12 | ||
| Shanghai | 6 | 13.4 | ||
| Bahrain | 5 | 11.6 | ||
| Catalunya | 5 | 11.5 | ||
| Gilles Villeneuve | 5 | 11.8 | ||
| İstanbul Park | 5 | 12.8 | ||
| Valencia | 5 | 10.3 | ||
| Marina Bay | 5 | 12.8 | ||
| Suzuka | 4 | 14 | ||
| Yas Marina | 4 | 14.5 | ||
| Nürburgring | 3 | 10.7 | ||
| Hockenheimring | 3 | 12 | ||
| Korea | 3 | 14.7 | ||
| Magny-Cours | 2 | 9.5 | ||
| Fuji | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Buddh | 2 | 16 | ||
| Americas | 2 | 16 |