Heikki Kovalainen on His F1 Fantasy Wish List
Question: You must choose a city for a new Formula One street circuit - which city, anywhere in the world, do you choose, and why?
Heikki Kovalainen: Helsinki, definitely. And, before you say it, it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m from Finland. I just think it’s a great city and an international city. It would make sure the race is amazing and the parties would be better than anywhere in the world. I’d make sure the music is proper metal, including Nightwish. It might not be normal party music, but at least I’d like it… oh… and it would have to be run in winter. With studded tyres.
Question: If you could choose one former world champion as your team mate, who would you choose and why?
Heikki Kovalainen: Kimi (Raikkonen). I suspect me and Kimi would have quite a lot of fun, on and off track. And we could talk to each other in Finnish and the engineers wouldn’t know what we were saying. That could be really quite funny.
Question: You can only drive at one circuit for the rest of your life - which circuit, past or present from anywhere in the world, do you choose?
Heikki Kovalainen: I’d take Suzuka. It’s a proper circuit that tests drivers and cars. The first sector, from Turn One to Turn Seven, is my favourite sequence of corners in the whole season. You have to commit right at the start, go in and make sure you keep on the power or you lose time. That’s what a real circuit should be like - gradient changes, proper high-speed corners, deeply passionate and knowledgeable fans and a real race. I love it.
Question: You have to design a new F1 circuit, combining all your favourite corners from other tracks around the world. Which three corners are top of your list and why?
Heikki Kovalainen: I can’t just pick three corners - but I’d say the Suzuka Esses, Becketts at Silverstone and probably Eau Rouge (at Spa). Eau Rouge isn’t really the challenge it used to be, but Suzuka and Becketts are still hardcore, so definitely them.
Question: What current Formula One regulation would you most like to change and why?
Heikki Kovalainen: There’s nothing I’d like to change really. The rules suit the era we’re in so I think they’re pretty much right.
Question: If you could pick two Formula One greats of the past (from different eras) to watch race against each other, who would you pick?
Heikki Kovalainen: Mika Hakkinen and Ayrton Senna again. I know they overlapped but they didn’t go head-to-head at their peaks. I think Mika in his day would have been a match for Ayrton, but that would have been amazing to see.
Question: If you were a team boss, which current driver would you pick first for your team (excluding yourself and your current team mate)?
Heikki Kovalainen: I’d take Fernando Alonso.
Question: You are having a dinner party and can invite four people from the world of motorsport, past or present. Who do you invite?
Heikki Kovalainen: Kimi, for sure. It’s not a party without Kimi. If you have Kimi you’d also have to have Eddie Irvine. And Tony Fernandes, for sure. Those three would be a party on their own - they don’t need anyone else. And the fourth? My girlfriend Catherine (Hyde).
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