Kovalainen Repays McLaren Faith

Budapest, Finland’s Heikki Kovalainen amply repaid the faith placed in him by his McLaren team this weekend, winning his maiden Grand Prix title in Hungary on Sunday just three days after agreeing a contract extension.

Kovalainen’s future at McLaren had been the subject of speculation coming into the Hungaroring meeting but the team responded on Thursday by announcing that the Finn had been retained for 2009.

The 26-year-old, who had started to look like a mere helper for team mate Lewis Hamilton after managing just one podium finish all season, promptly produced his first Formula One win.

Kovalainen capitalised on a late Felipe Massa engine failure to steal the lead three laps from the end and was also able to steal the show from championship leader Hamilton who took fifth place after suffering a puncture in the race’s middle section.

“It’s just fantastic, a great moment, and one that I’ve been targeting for many years now, ever since I first saw the possibility of being a Formula One driver,” said Kovalainen.

Although Massa’s misfortune played a major factor in the Finn’s triumph, Kovalainen certainly did his bit in recovering from a start where Massa stormed past both the McLaren drivers.

“Of course I felt sorry for Felipe and even for Lewis as they both drove a great race but I know how they feel as I have had similar moments myself this year,” Kovalainen said.

“There was not much I could do at the start but after that I tried to just keep it tidy and tight and not go too hard on the tyres in the first two stints which is where I had problems earlier in the season.

“I tried to push Felipe as much as possible at the end and when I saw a car on fire with big smoke coming out on the main straight I thought it must be Felipe — but it was hard to believe.

“After that of course there was no rush anymore. I just had to bring it home. It’s a great moment for myself and for the team who worked with me through all the hard times.”

Tags: Budapest