Former McLaren, Renault and Caterham driver Heikki Kovalainen revealed that he shot of an email to Claire Williams requesting her to consider him to replace Mercedes bound Valtteri Bottas in the team.
Kovalainen told MTV, “I sent Claire an email, but they obviously had other plans. Probably many other drivers sent the same message…”
In his 111 F1 race starts, Kovalainen won a single grand prix when he powered to victory driving a McLaren in Hungary, in 2008. Last year he was Japan Super GT champion driving for Lexus Team SARD.
Like most Kovalainen is keen to see how, fellow Finn, Bottas will perform at Mercedes against Lewis Hamilton.
He told Ilta Sanomat newspaper, “I won’t predict how Valtteri will go, but he is a very good driver and has the ability to race at the top. I also believe the co-operation between Valtteri and Lewis will be smooth. Both are professional drivers.”
Kovalainen was Hamilton’s teammate at McLaren in 2008 and 2009 and remembers, “I have good memories of working with Lewis.”
“He is a tough teammate and an extremely fast driver, but it was nice to work with him. I had no problem with him. Lewis is a tough teammate but there was nothing earth-shattering in terms of what he did.”
“He is strong in every way but I don’t think it is a problem for Valtteri or any other driver. I do not think there will be any problems between the two,” added Kovalainen.
Asked to comment about the one year deal Mercedes gave Bottas, Kovalainen pointed out, “Even if you have a long contract, if it doesn’t work out it can in the end be a short contract. If it does work and you do good results, then a one year contract can work out well for you.”