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Race fans!

I have followed Kovalainen since he was test driver for Renault.

Now he goes on his third year at Lotus... sorry Caterham and the pace is yet to be found.
If I was him I owuld start looking for some other line of work.

DO you agree?
WHere would I go if I was Kovalainen looking for work?

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Minds are like parachutes, they work best when they are open

Ferrari? I think he should start working on Mercedes

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Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

He won't get a job for a top team under normal circumstances. Maybe look at Williams or Sauber.

As a Williams fan, I would be delighted to have him. Certainly his talents are wasted at Caterham but I can see have going into rallying like Raikkonen.

Yes of course everyone in the last 3 teams should look for other job offers, but the most important thing is that he won't be getting a job from Ferrari or any other top team if he can't even beat his crashing/pay-driver team-mate. Beating Trulli almost 100% made Kovalainen look much better what he really seems to be.

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Michael Schumacher

7 Time WDC

Nice... so, how does he "seem to be"?

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Minds are like parachutes, they work best when they are open

Kovalainen had his chance at a top team and looked pretty second rate. I doubt he'll get another. He's a decent driver but clearly not good enough to mix it at the top unfortunately. I can only see him spending the rest of his F1 career mixing it in the midfield.

I don't think he'll get another chance with a top team. He was just too bad with McLaren. Its almost as if McLaren only had Hamilton during those 2 years. Personally I don't think he has the aggression or ruthlessness to be a top driver. He may have enough speed to be a midfield runner but I wouldn't want him occupying a competitive seat.

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Sadly he is done as far as top teams are concerned.
He had his chance and unfortunately it didnt work out for him. He is not going to get another chance in top 2-3 teams in his career. Too many good young drivers around. Too many good experienced drivers around. Too many freaking pay drivers around. Does not look good for someone like Kova does it?

You know, I mean that his just another Buemi/Glock etc, nothing really special but not the worst out there.

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Michael Schumacher

7 Time WDC

In my opinion he should look for a drive from any other team except for Marussia, HRT or Caterham.

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WDC 2007
19 Wins, 16 Poles, 69 Podiums, 37 Fastest laps, 786 Points

I thought not to send loads of cowsh*it on him.

I hope he gets to a "points" team and can move forward from there. If he performs well then there might be a spot available on a top team.
I remember what his weak-spots were at McLaren.
He suffered from bad starts. They were that lousy that he always ended in midfield. Now he has done well he might have a chance getting upwards the pecking order

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Minds are like parachutes, they work best when they are open

I disagree. A midfield team can turn into a top team. That is Kovers only hope of getting back to the top. We have seen Red Bull progress from midfield to the top same as Renault did before. Sauber this year have produced a quick car as have Williams. He has to take a chance and hope this happens for him.

I second to that

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Minds are like parachutes, they work best when they are open

if he's the first driver from the new teams to get mixing with the midfield and bag the first point (or get into Q2 on pace), his stock will rise dramatically.. basically seen as one of those drivers 'punching above their weight'.

if Grosjean can come back to a 3rd/4th best car, why can't Kovalainen?

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Life's pretty straight without twisties!

I don't think Heikki would ever pay for a drive.

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Räikkönen - Vettel - Bottas
Thank you Nico - You´re the champ!

PF1 Pick 10 Competition 2016: CHAMPION (2 wins, 8 podiums)

...and qualifying.

...and race-pace.

Actually I would dare to say that he outqualified Lewis fuel-corrected during their partnership (I may be wrong of course), but his absolutely biggest issue was his poor race pace. I don't think he'll ever be in a top team again. His biggest chance of success would be to somehow get into a midfield team and hopefully get a good car, like e.g. Sauber has this year.

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Räikkönen - Vettel - Bottas
Thank you Nico - You´re the champ!

PF1 Pick 10 Competition 2016: CHAMPION (2 wins, 8 podiums)

Was he not recognised last year by the team bosses as one of the drivers that had performed extremely well?

He also claimed there was more than met the eye in his time at Mclaren.

He could do really well in a Williams/Lotus/Force India.

Did Kovalainen not say last year that he'd stay at Caterham unless a top team came calling? I'd agree with him as Caterham may come good as much chance as any other midfield team (I'm meaning race wins/podiums not consistent points). He's been there from the start too so he may get favoured over any teammates.

I think he's very good but was put in the McLaren too early in his career as he isn't as good as Hamilton which made some think he's not great.

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Close doesn't count

Honestly, I still don't understand why Caterham are so well-seen. By looking at the sheer numbers, they have yet to score their first point and really they haven't been able to mix conclusively even with the lower midfield. Yes, occasionally they managed to disrupt the back-balance for some laps/races, but there's still a long long way to go. And nobody can guarantee to Kova that they will actually go the distance and transform into a point/midfield team soon (or ever) - so the question is whether he can spare the time to wait and (maybe) make happen with Caterham or go with another team which could offer at least a bit of experience and history... at the present conditions, if he should be contacted by anybody else than the new 3, I would say go for it in a heartbeat.
He can still work out good if put in a decent team - let's not forget that by the end of 2008 Button was a complete wash-up/write-off from he grid. Sure, it took Brawn and 6 stellar races to put him back on the chart, and this situation will not happen soon (at the same magnitude, at least) but Kova - if he steps up the teams ladder a little bit - could pull up a smaller miracle and mix up for the 9th/10th/11th place.

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Olivier Panis fan.
...and also Jenson Button fan.

I think he's one of the most overrated drivers in F1 to be honest. I don't believe for a second that he's driving so much better than he was in 08/09 just because he beat a demotivated Trulli. He had his chance at a top team, and he got a second chance to redeem himself in 2009. He didn't prove that he deserved it.

In terms of reputation Caterham has done wonders for him as the car is so much better than the other new teams. But I doubt they are going to be challenging for regular points anytime soon so career-wise he should be looking to get out of there and into the midfield.

Caterham is good team for Kovalainen! His only problem is his teams Technical Director who is a schmuck quack! Gascoyne is utterly useless in my opinion! The promises which Caterham|Team Lotus|1Malaysia Racing has been making over the past 3 still have to materialize.

He should stick with caterham for now, maybe they might progress up the field like RB given that Gascoyne is kicked! =)

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--Veno--

He puts his poor Macca performance down to not having enough confidence and not knowing how to get the most out of the team. Two areas in which he claims to have made huge strides lately (which I think is clear).

But, assuming he had the option, what's the point in leaving for FI, Williams or the like? Unless you're in a top team you're effectively in a shop window trying to impress one. To have the best chance of doing that you need to be happy, feel valued, be able to get what you need from the team and get the best out of yourself. He has that at Caterham but may not at another team. Ultimately it desn't matter where you're coming in relation to everyone else, only in relation to your teammate and where you should be given the car you've got.

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Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
-Epicurus

That's where the problem is. After his stint at McLaren nobody can guarantee that Kovalainen himself could go the distance if Caterham gave him a good car. Kovalainen is not in a great bargaining position at all. His current performance is probably better than he was doing at McLaren but he is a big gamble for even a mildly competitive team now.

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Because he was blown away by Lewis and even when he qualified higher he did a Webber and went backwards.

As much as it was "Team Lewis" there is no excuse for being blown away, same goes for Massa in the Ferrari. A team will not purposely make some one go slower especially when they can take points off the challengers. It made Lewis's job harder that season when Kimi was helping Massa by stopping Lewis from winning.

I think it is time to move to the ultra tight mid-field asap. And prove a point. It is now or never for Heikki.

There is next hot finn around the corner, Valtteri Bottas it is a matter of time when we see him in the ranks of new, fresh drivers of F1

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Minds are like parachutes, they work best when they are open

I'd see Heikki as good replacement of Massa as MW. Nowdays Heikki is consistent, strong-minded and always has been a nice guy who plays well with others.

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“I'm happy, but there's nothing to jump around about.”

was a good servant to mclaren, accepted lewis was #1 so he got the title.

Are you suggesting that Grosjean has paid for his Lotus drive?

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Apparently religious people didn't like my signature, hah! Don't read it if you are so offended by it.

When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion. - Robert Pirsig

Looks to be "Done in f1" for the Heikki with a push for Rossi.

I don't see why a midfield team would sign him. The only one he can fight with is his teammate. If he cannot beat Petrov than his stock will decrease. He is not worth the risk I'm afraid.

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F1 fan since 1989

Did I miss something?

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Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity.

Maria de Villota - Jules Bianchi

Great battle today from Heikki by keeping Jenson at bay with that dog of a car. Shame that he hurt his front wing but in the end points finish would've been impossible.

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“I'm happy, but there's nothing to jump around about.”

Indeed. HK was driving with a lot of passion. That knock he received from Perez cost Caterham another spot, or two.

Kovi to Williams to replace the invisible Senna

When I saw him holding off Button, I thought how it must have felt sweet for him to be in front of the guy that 'took his seat'.

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Arguing semantics: the lowest form of internet discussions.

It was probably first time since he moved to Caterham (old Lotus) when I actually noticed him during race. He had great chance of scoring first points for his team too.

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eeee

I noticed him at Singapore when he played fireman! But yeah, very strong performance from Heikki. Heikki to Williams to replace Senna wouldn't surprise me, or even Ferrari at a push.

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Official Kamui Kobayashi Fanboy