Minardi interested in a new star Finn - offers him a test drive Options

[Codename:Iceman]

Minardi's next year drivers are still not yet confirmed. First driver will probably be Italian Gianmaria Brun who has been Minardis test driver since summer.

For the second seat Minardi is going to take a new promising driver. Two young drivers are going to get invititation to Minardi test. The other of the two is promising Finnish talent Heikki Kovalainen.

- Ilta-Sanomat

Go Heikki!

[NickeF1]

Good.

[Chevy II Nova]

Do you have a link? I haven't caught this story yet. Can he bring money to the team?

[HSJ]

Originally posted by Codename:Iceman
Minardi's next year drivers are still not yet confirmed. First driver will probably be Italian Gianmaria Brun who has been Minardis test driver since summer.

For the second seat Minardi is going to take a new promising driver. Two young drivers are going to get invititation to Minardi test. The other of the two is promising Finnish talent Heikki Kovalainen.

- Ilta-Sanomat

Go Heikki!

That's cool. Although it is perhaps a bit strange if Kovalainen gets a F1 race seat before Montagny. This kinda reminds me of how Kiesa has already raced in F1 while Wirdheim has not...

Of course Heikki might not get that seat, and neither might Lopez (FRenault V6 champ) whom I believe Heikki will battle with for the seat according to the rumor. But it would be cool if Kovalainen got that seat, I wouldn't mind!

[The Vulcan]

I thought Justin Wilson will get his chance back at Minardi if he fails to get a seat at Jaguar

[BRG]

Originally posted by HSJ
Although it is perhaps a bit strange if Kovalainen gets a F1 race seat before Montagny

I think that there are a LOT of other people ahead of Heikki in the F1 queue. There are the guys who beat Heikki in F Renault, the guys who beat him in F3, and the guys who have beaten him in F. Nissan V6. Heikki needs to get his head down and actually win something credible to earn a real shot at F1.

Having said that, he compares quite well to people like Bruni, Baumgartner and so on

[AdrianM]

Yeah Paul said he would welcome Justin back.

[Sir Frank]

Stoddart said last week in an interview that there are currently 12 drivers in the contention for the seats. Verstappen, Kiesa, Bruni + a couple of youn up and coming drivers + some from f3000 + an Indycar driver + a couple of F1 guys who dont have seats yet.

But there is strong rumour that either Lopez or Kovalainen could get a seat next year, maybe only a test seat.

[kismet]

One of these days it's going to dawn on Flavio that juggling multiple drivers is hard work when you only have two race seats to distribute between them.

[FlatFoot]

Heikki Kovalainen = o-v-e-r-r-a-t-e-d

[Codename:Iceman]

Originally posted by Chevy II Nova
Do you have a link? I haven't caught this story yet. Can he bring money to the team?

He can bring as much money as Flavio can or will give. Not more, not less.

[Flying Panda]

don't be surprised to see Nassim Sidi Saïd in a Minardi on a Friday at some point.
Perhaps in Bahrain?

http://202.56.156.226/servlets/sfs?s=Ce4Wy...D=1068863732471

[joriswouters]

I'd like to see what Kovalainen does in a test, then you see what he's worth in a F1. THe SWS are a strong series, but it's not because you're good in a F Nissan that you're good in a F1.

[Amrl]

I doubt Kovalainen can get the seat as he has no money with him. Stoddart just trying to get Minardis name to show on papers with this little fuss about the second seat?

[Chevy II Nova]

Panda, don't count on it.

I am always skeptical of these young guys coming in for the reason that Kiesa showed us: Just because your good in a lower series doesn't mean you can crack an F1 car.

[Hakk]

Originally posted by Amrl
I doubt Kovalainen can get the seat as he has no money with him. Stoddart just trying to get Minardis name to show on papers with this little fuss about the second seat?

Maybe Renault is paying Minardi for letting Kovalainen drive.
Or maybe Briatore can pull a few strings and do some favours for Minardi for getting a seat for Kovalainen.
Who knows what happens behind the scene? Kovalinen has a strong Renault back-up behind him and Renault seems to be pretty committed to Kovalainen. It'll be intresting to see what happens. Personally I haven't been that impressed yet about Kovalainen. But time will tell how he'll end up.

[Breadmaster]

I rate Kovalainen, he is definately one to watch, while i haven't seen him race since F3 what he did there means he deserves a crack at formula 1.....

[HSJ]

Originally posted by FlatFoot
Heikki Kovalainen = o-v-e-r-r-a-t-e-d

Quite possibly, depends who does the rating. Personally I don't think he's all that great. Fairly solid, but no signs of "Räikkönen" in him. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that he is in Renault's driver development program, and like it or not, that opens doors, and possibly now a F1 seat. Not that I think he will actually get it really, but it is a possibility.

[d_view7]

Originally posted by FlatFoot
Heikki Kovalainen = o-v-e-r-r-a-t-e-d

Agreed. I would like to see how he does in a F1 car though.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by HSJ


Quite possibly, depends who does the rating. Personally I don't think he's all that great. Fairly solid, but no signs of "Räikkönen" in him. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that he is in Renault's driver development program, and like it or not, that opens doors, and possibly now a F1 seat. Not that I think he will actually get it really, but it is a possibility.

There's one team owner that's had the both of them in his cars. He said Heikki was better. *shrug*

[BRG]

Originally posted by Breadmaster
while i haven't seen him race since F3 what he did there means he deserves a crack at formula 1.....

Being a mid-fielder for most of the season, then winning a couple of races, that makes you deserving of a crack at F1? Then presumably the guy who WON F3 and beat Heikki hands down that year ought to be already comfortably ensconced in F1?

Oh, no, but wait a minute, Robbie Kerr doesn't have a Finnish passport, so guess what, he is out of a drive completely, let alone getting even a crack at a F1 test drive.

[Chevy II Nova]

Maybe Heikki was driving last years car.

[maclaren]

Originally posted by BRG
Being a mid-fielder for most of the season, then winning a couple of races, that makes you deserving of a crack at F1? Then presumably the guy who WON F3 and beat Heikki hands down that year ought to be already comfortably ensconced in F1?

Oh, no, but wait a minute, Robbie Kerr doesn't have a Finnish passport, so guess what, he is out of a drive completely, let alone getting even a crack at a F1 test drive.

It was Heikki's first season wasn't it? But in my opinion Heikki is too nice and soft guy to succeed in F1, he reminds me of Trulli from the outside.

[J]

Brg,

I´m sure you are aware that your description of Kovalainen´s year in F3 is myopic. How many seasons on Formula Nissan Montagny has behind him? Three?

The best passport to have at the moment to get in the F1 is German, closely followed by the British. There are no Finnish sponsors in the F1 today, nor have been since ´97. No manufacturer has a preference to have a Finnish driver. More than one has a preference to have a British one due commercial reasons.

I am aware that it´s a fun sport to take pot shots at the Finns due to some members in this forum, but I wish it wouldn´t make Finnish drivers an automatic target when they get in the international stage.

In any case. Believe me the passport is a hindrance(except when dealing with current or ex-military people)


P.s. Test is not a Drive. Kovalainen won´t be a F1 race driver next year.


-J

[HSJ]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


There's one team owner that's had the both of them in his cars. He said Heikki was better. *shrug*

Yeah, and Mika Salo also beat the crap out of Micheal Schumacher in 1988. As we know now, Salo was just so much better!

[HSJ]

Originally posted by BRG
Being a mid-fielder for most of the season, then winning a couple of races, that makes you deserving of a crack at F1? Then presumably the guy who WON F3 and beat Heikki hands down that year ought to be already comfortably ensconced in F1?

Oh, no, but wait a minute, Robbie Kerr doesn't have a Finnish passport, so guess what, he is out of a drive completely, let alone getting even a crack at a F1 test drive.

Please, not even the Brit F1 media rate Kerr that highly. The reason is that he had loads and loads of experience under his belt and still made it hard work to win the title. Kerr will never amount to anything in F1, but many of his challengers might amount to something. Kerr is like Firman: sucks big time, and there's no point in denying it.

[Richie Jenkins]

J's last sentence is right - latest favourite for the second seat is Frenchman Tristian Gommendy.

Make of that what you will :\

[man from martinl...]

J is right. F1 is very much commercial business, where mighty sponsors and advertisers are important. Finland is a small country (5.2 million inhabitants) and there is Finnish money in F1 only on TV rights. If there would be German, English, U.S., French or Italian drivers, which would be at the same level as Finnish drivers, Finns would disappeare from F1 (and from rallye too). If a driver is from Finland, his position is pretty much the same as if he would be from Mongolia or Vanuatu. He has to proove his true value, and he has less opportunities to show that than if he would be from a big country. By the way now there might be demand for at least one Chinese and Arabian driver (because of the new GPs in Shanghai and Bahrain) in F1.

[Sir Frank]

Originally posted by HSJ


Yeah, and Mika Salo also beat the crap out of Micheal Schumacher in 1988.

How did that happen? Facts pls.

[logic]

I think Heikki is better pr-mouth than a very quick-driver. Nice, talks much, smiles all time much but how quick? Hope he gets a chance.. Flavio gives him a minardi seat Btw. Does Minardi buy Renault chassis?

[kismet]

I don't know why but I always get a Mika Salo flashback when I see Heikki on TV. Very unfortunate because it basically prevents me from ever warming to the guy.

[kismet]

Originally posted by HSJ
Yeah, and Mika Salo also beat the crap out of Micheal Schumacher in 1988. As we know now, Salo was just so much better!

And Sanna Pinola has probably beaten the crap out of just about every Finnish F1 "star" in some karting thingy or other over the years. Purely because she's fundamentally a better driver than those overrated little buggers, of course.

[TT6]

Originally posted by Sir Frank


How did that happen? Facts pls.

Mika Salo was European Champion in Formula Ford 1600 in 1988.
Michael Shumacher came second in European Formula Ford 1600 in the same year.

[maclaren]

BTW, Kovalainen grabbed 2nd position in the final World series standings ahead of the likes of Karthikeyan and Bernoldi

http://ws.racing-live.com/en/

[Sir Frank]

Originally posted by TT6


Mika Salo was European Champion in Formula Ford 1600 in 1988.
Michael Shumacher came second in European Formula Ford 1600 in the same year.

Thanks, I was just trying to get a better view on MSs carrier in F3 and found out some very intresting things but I didnt look what happened before 1989.

As I understand Salo was taking part in Formula Ford races in the Scandinavian and Finnish championships in 1987 and the mentioned two + the European championships in 88.

Schumacher was taking part in 8 of the 12 races held in the German Formula Ford championships in 1988 and had a better points/race tally than the eventual winner at the end of the year (Wagner). Meanwhile Schumacher was racing in Formula König (the German version of Formula Panda) and he won 9 out of 10 races. He got 2nd place from the only race he didnt win.

Schumacher, 1988


European Formula Ford 1600 Championship
Van Diemen-Ford

Österreichring
2nd

Knutstorp
2nd

Zolder
DNF

Zandvoort
1st/Pole

Championship Standings
1.Mika Salo 80
2.Michael Schumacher 50
3.Wagner 45

Competed in 4 out of 5 rounds

Anybody has more complete standings of the races?

[HSJ]

Originally posted by Sir Frank


How did that happen? Facts pls.

1988 Euro FFord series, Salo won 14/14 races, leaving thus no wins for MS who still finished 2nd in the series. Since then Salo always said he was better than MS, although not in recent years anymore (wonder why).

[Chevy II Nova]

Why do you think that is HSJ? Because Schumacher hasn't broken his leg enough?

[Sir Frank]

Originally posted by HSJ


1988 Euro FFord series, Salo won 14/14 races, leaving thus no wins for MS who still finished 2nd in the series. Since then Salo always said he was better than MS, although not in recent years anymore (wonder why).

Werent there only 5 rounds to the euroseries? See my earlier post.

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by HSJ


1988 Euro FFord series, Salo won 14/14 races, leaving thus no wins for MS who still finished 2nd in the series. Since then Salo always said he was better than MS, although not in recent years anymore (wonder why).

Salo stayed the same, MS got better?
I remember reading about MS when he entered F1, that he was building up the wrong muscles, he corrected this, and we've seen the results since, he was good when he started out, but his progression as a driver was growing. Senna in his early days, lost a race in a wet, then practiced, practiced, then became good, you nit pick at results, but at times the potential a driver has, needs ironing out. Salo's accomplishments are the same as someone who beat me at arm wrestling once, my friend beat me once at primary school, and after that, and before, I always beated him, but his one arm wrestle, he chose to boast about, but he didn't want a rematch later on, because I had a stronger arm, if Salo was cut out for f1, really impressed a team, it would of came his way.

[HSJ]

Originally posted by maclaren
BTW, Kovalainen grabbed 2nd position in the final World series standings ahead of the likes of Karthikeyan and Bernoldi

http://ws.racing-live.com/en/

Heikki has a pretty interesting series of results in his career so far:

2001 British FRenault, 4th
2002 British F3, 3rd
2003 FNissan, 2nd
2004 ?

I mean each year he's gone one level up in difficulty (FRen->F3->FNis) and also one level up in result (4->3->2), so I guess next year it will be F1 and 1st...

Although HK hasn't won a series yet, IMO his results are quite good because he has switched series upwards each year and still improved his results.