2010: may kovy stay at mcl?

[De Jokke]

Will mcl let kovy stay next year? Or will they go for rosberg, sutil or another driver?

I don't know actually, I think it all depends on his performance this year.

Your thoughts?

[andartop]

Seriously now, do you work for a polling company?

[safeaschuck]

Nope, time to get him out. Keep him on a retainer and palm him off on Force India, If he pulls his finger out of his arse maybe give him another shot in 2 years time, otherwise bye-bye. They know enough already to know they are better off taking a risk on an rookie or at least upgrading to a better mid-field contender with excellent technical feedback abilities to help develop the car. Christ they could get Mark Webber in and do as well, he could probably help develop the car too. How about the return of the Hak? awesome P.R. just when they need some
Maybe not But if they got another promising young talent who could run Lewis closer and give him something to focus on they will set themselves up with a young pairing which could see them through for 7-8 years with at least a consistent/known quantity at the wheel. What they need now is a decent period of stability, ideally as early mid-season this year starting with drivers and when they have a chassis, focus on development of Kers in time for next years power increase. I still rate Hamilton for a high spot in the DWC though. The lad can drive, that's for damn sure.

[ringo]

I see kovi doing well this year, he is a good driver after all, its just that he is not there when it counts. If anything i think he will stay. I cant really see him fitting in with any other team. If i must pick a team, he may well go to Williams or BMW.

[firefly]

Yeah he should stay. He's not bad, Mclaren don't mind him as a back up for lewis hamilton.

Hey, he got more points in china than lewis did..

[ajk]

Hey, he got more points in china than lewis did..

With the old front wing and 18 kg of extra weight during the first half of the race. Kovi was 18 kg heavier than Lewis in the start and Kovi said in an TV interview that he was a bit puzzled with the timing of his pit stop as he had no problems with the tyres and fuel for 8 more laps to go. Those two handicaps add up easily 0,3 seconds a lap, or even more.

Kovi looks a lot worse than he is. His treatment to Lewis has been far from equal. China is agreat example: older parts and odd strategy that simply doesn't make sense. This year seem to have been better than last year, McLaren are in no position to sacrifice anything. FRI-SAT sessions so far have been very tigh between the two drivers, hopefully Kovi too will get his Sundays together now.

He has a constant headwind which doesn't make his already hard job along Lewis any easier. The team knows exactly where he stands and I have no doubt Kovi will stay at McLaren par Mercedes' cry for German PR-driver.

[lkocev]

I agree with alot what ajk posted, and despite a bit of bias (because I have been a big fan of Kovalainen for a while now), I really can't see a reason not to have him in the team. I would agree that at times he does seem quite a way off Lewis in raw pace, but I think his faultless performance at china should silence his critics a little.

I found Kovalainen particularly impressive in the latter half of his rookie season at Renault, thats when I became a fan of him really. I have a feeling that with McLaren's apparent lack of performance, we might just see some more of those great qualities he showed at Renault in the later half of '07. Sure his first 2 races this year were over before the first sector split, but what is to say something like that won't happen to Hamilton in his last 2 races this year? There is plenty more time for Kovalainen to prove his worth to McLaren. Lets not forget he has won a race, and there really is no reason why he can't win more.

I never knew that Kovalainen was brought in 8 laps early, and I also find it puzzling that McLaren would bring his pit stop that far foward. But on the same hand, if there had of been a saftey car period which bunched up the field, getting the pitstop out of the way while there was bigger feild spread would be better, he would have lost more time, but fewer positions. I think that 8 laps is probably a bit over conservative to the point of being counter-conservative, perhaps 3 laps would be a better early call in, but either way, Heikki was still very impresive.

Hopefully Kovalainen can continue to get the business done...

[JamesS]

I believe he will stay. He out drove Lewis at the weekend as one example of his ability.

The chemistry between Lewis and Heiki seems quiet, nothing like the whole Alonso vs Lewis 2007 saga. That has its plus points but also negatives I suppose.

[nudger]

Kovi looks a lot worse than he is. His treatment to Lewis has been far from equal. China is agreat example: older parts and odd strategy that simply doesn't make sense. This year seem to have been better than last year, McLaren are in no position to sacrifice anything. FRI-SAT sessions so far have been very tigh between the two drivers, hopefully Kovi too will get his Sundays together now.

oh dont start with the "treatment" thing. He CHOSE to use to old front wing...and yeah, im sure mclaren deliberately pulled him in early to slow him up a bit

[firefly]

Kovi looks a lot worse than he is. His treatment to Lewis has been far from equal. China is agreat example: older parts and odd strategy that simply doesn't make sense. This year seem to have been better than last year, McLaren are in no position to sacrifice anything. FRI-SAT sessions so far have been very tigh between the two drivers, hopefully Kovi too will get his Sundays together now.

oh dont start with the "treatment" thing. He CHOSE to use to old front wing...and yeah, im sure mclaren deliberately pulled him in early to slow him up a bit

Hey i didn't write that...

[Giblet]

Yeah looks like someone needs an HTML lesson.

[ajk]

Just look at the the start weights between the two McLarens. Heikki and Lewis pitted in consecutive laps.

Deliberate or not, Heikki had over 15 kgs of unnecessary weight on him through the first 50% of the race. He did a great job in that respect. That was my main point.

[DaveKillens]

Why now? Sometimes I'm under the impression that some people are impatient, and expect immediate changes. Heck, just about exactly one year ago many people were making serious enquiries about Massa, and if Ferrari should sack him.
And why Kovy now? If he was going to be released, the end of last year would been the time. McLaren missed out onthe Manufacturer's Title, and one reason was Kovy's weak showing. Hamilton got 98 points, Massa 97, Kimi 75, and Kovy just 53. So assuming that Ferrari and McLaren were approximately on par for the season, Kovy underperformed.
But so far this year, Heikki had two terrible starts, both in Australia and Malaysia. But he bounced back and even beat Hamilton. Now let's look at his positives. He's an inoffensive person, easily likeable. For McLaren, under constant attack and controversy, his type of person is welcome. He doesn't cause problems. He's quick, consistent, and could even win races.
He's worth retaining for now.

[firefly]

Agree with Dave.
The way i see it is, as long as he stays close to his team mate and keeps the points tally near lewis he'll stay. He's doing both of those things atm.

[johnny99]

Maybe HK should get out for his own good. he seems to be playing second fiddle to the chosen one. Look at the way DC was treated compared to MK, he goes to RBR asnd although the car was never in the same league, he was a happier man. If he had got out earlier in his career, maybe he would have had better chance.

John