Caterham rookie Giedo van der Garde has repeated his denial that Heikki Kovalainen is targeting replacing him in the team.
After a mediocre first half-season in Formula 1, the Dutchman recently dismissed rumours that former Caterham racer Kovalainen was set to replace him later in 2013.
“I know where [the rumours] are coming from, but I also know that I have a watertight contract for the rest of this season,” said van der Garde.
The rumours, however, did not go away, and so the Dutch driver told De Telegraaf newspaper on Wednesday: “I will finish the season.”
Further dismissing the rumours, he added: “I am busy enough with everything that I am doing and learning.”
Van der Garde said that qualifying 15th at Monaco was a high point of his career, “I didn’t expect to reach the second qualifying segment. That was great.”
But the low point quickly followed, in Canada, where collisions and a penalty earned a harsh ‘pay driver’ rebuke from Mark Webber.
But van der Garde insisted: “Webber and I already settled everything after the race. He is respectful to everyone, even the rookies.” (GMM)
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