Heikki Johannes Kovalainen was born on October 19, 1981 in Suomussalmi, Finland. He is a Finnish Formula One racing driver currently in the McLaren Mercedes team.

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. He was signed on as a full-time Formula One test driver for 2006 by Renault, and was then promoted to a race seat for 2007. He gained his first podium by finishing second in the Japanese Grand Prix. He moved to McLaren for the 2008 season, where he was Lewis Hamilton’s partner. The 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.

Early Career

Kovalainen’s career began in kart racing, much like that of most Formula One drivers. He competed in karting from 1991 to 2000, during which time he finished runner-up in the Finnish Formula A championship in 1999 and 2000. In 2000 he won the Nordic championship and the Paris-Bercy Elf Masters event, as well as finished third in the World Formula Super A Championship, which elected him as the Finnish Kart Driver of the Year.

First Races

Kovalainen began his car racing career in the British Formula Renault championship, which Finn Kimi Räikkönen had won the previous year before moving straight into Formula One with Sauber. Kovalainen’s apprenticeship in the junior categories of motor sport was more conventional, but was remarkable in that he used Renault power at every step along the way. He finished fourth in the championship with two wins, two pole positions, five podiums and three fastest laps, earning the Rookie of the Year award. He also took part in the Formula Three Macao Grand Prix, where he finished eighth.

Shot To Fame

At the Chinese Grand Prix he came in ninth. In Brazil Kovalainen made a mistake in qualifying and was left 17th on the grid. At the start of the race his team-mate Fisichella was involved in a collision with Sakon Yamamoto, which in turn caused Ralf Schumacher to collide with Kovalainen, forcing him to pit. On lap 36 he felt a vibration at the left rear, and suddenly the back end of the car snapped, launching Kovalainen into the barriers. The retirement, possibly caused by damage from the collision with Schumacher, was his first of the season, meaning he lost the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of becoming the first driver to finish all of the races in his first season. As it stands, he shares the record for most consecutive finishes from start of career with Tiago Monteiro, both having finished 16 races.