Kovalainen set to sign as Mercedes F1 test driver

Heikki Kovalainen is poised to return to Formula 1 in a test driver role, according to the major Finnish newspaper

The report said that the 32-year-old, who was dropped by Caterham at the end of 2012, is set to sign a contract to be a Mercedes test driver.

Last year, Kovalainen looked poised to return to the grid with Caterham in 2014, but late in the season he struggled notably at Lotus when he was drafted in to replace the injured Kimi Raikkonen.

Caterham team owner Tony Fernandes admitted recently that Kovalainen's Lotus struggle "played a part" in the decision to sign Kamui Kobayashi instead.

Kovalainen is yet to comment on his 2014 plans, but Ilta Sanomat

Subbed by AJN.