- Born
- Birth nameHeikki Johannes Kovalainen
- Nickname
- Niceman
- Height5′ 7¾″ (1.72 m)
- Heikki Johannes Kovalainen is a Finnish racing driver. He raced in Formula 1 between 2007 and 2013 for the Renault, McLaren, Team Lotus and Lotus F1 teams.
He was supported by the Renault Driver Development programme early in his racing career, during which he won the World Series by Nissan championship and finished runner-up in the GP2 series. Renault signed him on as a full-time Formula One test driver for 2006, and then promoted him to a race seat for 2007. He gained his first podium by finishing second in the Japanese Grand Prix that year.
He moved to McLaren for the 2008 season, where he partnered Lewis Hamilton. His second season saw him achieve his first pole position at Silverstone and his first victory at Hungaroring, becoming the 100th driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix. He remained with the team for the 2009 season.
In 2010, he moved to the newly created Team Lotus where he also remained for 2011 and 2012, with the team renamed Caterham F1 for 2012. 2012 was his last full season in Formula One. Kovalainen competed in the last two races of the 2013 season for Lotus F1 as a short-notice stand-in for regular driver Kimi Räikkönen.
In 2015, Kovalainen moved to Japan to compete in Super GT in the GT500 class.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Bazza the Beast
- Ex-Formula One racing driver, who raced for Renault (2007), McLaren (2008-2009), Lotus (2010 (18 GPs)-2011, 2013 (2 GPs)) and Caterham (2012). Heikki Kovalainen started 111 Grands Prix, 1 Win, 1 Pole Position, 2 Fastests Laps, 4 Podiums and 105 Points. Best ranked in the World Championship: 7th in 2007 and 2008.
- First tested for Renault F1 in 2003 and 2004, became third driver in 2006, then made his Grand Prix debut for them in 2007. Is Nissan World Series Runner-Up of 2003, and Champion of 2004; Winner of the Race of Champions, 2004; and Runner-Up in GP2 in 2005.
- Resides in Switzerland.
- In Melbourne, Australia driving for McLaren Mercedes F1 team.
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