McLaren keep Kovalainen to maintain stability

Published on Thursday 31 July 2008 23:57

HEIKKI Kovalainen would love to finish his Formula 1 career with McLaren. The Woking-based team have confirmed Kovalainen will again partner Lewis Hamilton in 2009 as they look to build on the stability they have created this season.

The move comes as no surprise as Hamilton and Kovalainen have also developed a close friendship since the Finn joined McLaren following his release from Renault at the end of last year.

However, the 26-year-old has endured his fair share of troubles this season, and after ten races he trails Hamilton by 30 points in the drivers' standings, with his title chances virtually over.

But although Kovalainen has only managed to stand on the podium once this year, McLaren have now made it clear they are determined to stand by him and help him progress. If that can be achieved and Kovalainen starts to gain the results his talent deserve, he is hoping his partnership with McLaren lasts way beyond next year.

"I am very, very happy with this team," said Kovalainen. "I have no second thoughts about being with them. There is great potential, and I want to be part of it.

"I want to become a successful driver with them, and hopefully we can announce at some point in the future that I will stay for many years to come. I'd be happy to finish my career with this team, to be honest."

Appreciably, Hamilton is delighted Kovalainen is staying on board as he said: "It's great news. The atmosphere in the team is fantastic, and a lot of that is due to Heikki being there and how we have worked together. So I welcome it, and I really hope he stays for longer."

Kovalainen himself has conceded there is more to come as he knows he has not lived up to his billing, with McLaren ready to do all they can to ensure that becomes the case.

McLaren F1 chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said: "He is a brilliant young racing driver. His pass of Robert Kubica at Hockenheim (at the German Grand Prix] reminded anybody who needed reminding that he has all the speed and skill to be battling at the front. But there's no magic in Formula 1 and we still need to work with Heikki to extract his full potential."