Looking forward to a strong race in Japan - Kovalainen
The ING Renault F1 Team previews round fifteen of the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship, the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji. Heikki Kovalainen is one of the few F1 drivers that has driven at the circuit.
"Simply because the car was clearly quicker than we managed to show in the race. I fought for every lap and didn’t miss any opportunities, but we could have done better than eighth. But there were positives to take the from the weekend, primarily that our pure pace seemed to have improved. That’s why I’m feeling optimistic for the final three races, and particularly Japan, which is a new circuit for most of the drivers."
You will not be racing in Suzuka, which was a favourite of the drivers, but at Fuji. Are you disappointed?"No, times change, Formula 1 changes, and that’s part of life. Like Monza and Spa, Suzuka was a really challenging circuit, for the drivers and the car. This year’s race, though, is at Fuji, which is a track I already know a little bit about after doing a promotional event for our partners here last year. I think it will make for good racing, which will be good for all the Japanese supporters, who are always really enthusiastic about Formula 1!"
You are quite well-known in Japan, with some loyal supporters who have been following you for several years…"Yes, it’s amazing. The Japanese fans are without a doubt the best of the whole season: very enthusiastic, always kind, and they will wait for hours to see you at the hotel or the circuit. Even last year when I wasn’t a race driver, I was amazed by how many people recognised me or stopped me for autographs. It really puts you in a good mood, and makes you want to race well for them."
What can you tell us about the circuit, as you are one of the few people to have driven here…"The circuit includes a long straight of around 1.5 km, and I think that the aero level will be a very important thing to calculate well. There are also some sequences of medium- and slow-speed corners, particularly the last five corners which are all in second gear. So we will be working hard to find the right aero compromise, and also to get good mechanical grip in the slow sections. In terms of overtaking opportunities, turn 1 is probably the most obvious one, with a lot of passing. I am really looking forward to racing there!"
