Kovalainen: Even more determined for this last race
At the end of the 2007 season, Renault arrives in Brazil with the firm intention of making headlines after a year slightly below the previous two, during which the Constructors’ Championship title had been secured. Kovalainen has shown himself this year to be one of the revelation drivers in F1. It is with this status […]
At the end of the 2007 season, Renault arrives in Brazil with the firm intention of making headlines after a year slightly below the previous two, during which the Constructors’ Championship title had been secured.
Kovalainen has shown himself this year to be one of the revelation drivers in F1. It is with this status that he hopes to score points for the last time this season. And for good reason, in his mind, there is undoubtedly the goal of reaching Kubica’s 6th place, which is only 5 points away from the Finn.
Heikki, your streak of scoring finishes ended in China…
« I know, yet I came very close to scoring points in Shanghai. Coulthard was just ahead of me, but I couldn’t overtake him on the dry track. The afternoon was very difficult for the whole team and it was disappointing not to score points, especially because we had the pace to achieve it. But I made a mistake in qualifying, our strategy didn’t work in the first laps, and that was enough to keep us out of the points. As always, however, we must also consider the positive aspects of the situation: the car was quite fast on Sunday and we made the right choices when reacting to changing conditions. Moreover, our reliability was once again exemplary. I have finished all the races this year, and we are very proud of that. »
Tell us about Interlagos…
« It is a very physically demanding circuit for the drivers: its surface is bumpy and it runs counterclockwise, putting the body and especially the neck to the test. I have trained to avoid any problems and I will be in perfect physical condition for this last race. »
Regarding the settings, what will be your priorities?
« I think suspension is the most important parameter in Brazil. The car must go over bumps without problems, just like the curbs in the second sector, which we go over a lot. If you can find a good compromise in setting up your suspensions to achieve both relative softness and mechanical grip, then it’s a big plus for lap time. »
This race is the last of the season. Did it prompt you to change your approach?
This gives me more determination, I believe. This year will be our last chance to show what we are capable of. In F1, it’s often the result of the last race that leaves a mark, so it’s important to have a good race to head into the winter on a positive note, for me and the team. The season has been difficult for everyone at Renault, but we have made progress in recent weeks, and unfortunately, we couldn’t show it due to track conditions in Japan and China. Interlagos is a circuit where the team has had a lot of success in the past. We can’t predict anything for 2007, but it might bring us luck. I hope we can have a normal race, fight against the BMWs, and finish the season with a race that’s as solid as it is aggressive.
According to ING Renault F1 Team