Team: Lotus
First F1 Race: 2007
F1 Races: 52
Best Championship Finish: 7th (2007-08)
Race Wins: 1 (2008)

Kovalainen forms the younger half of the new Lotus F1 team this season alongside Jarno Trulli and the young Finnish drive continues his rapid rise in Formula 1. The 28 year old first emerged in F1 in 2004 where he took on the role of test driver at Renault before they promoted him to a full seat for the 2007 season following the exit of Fernando Alonso. On what has been a steep learning curve for Kovalainen, the Finn has learned from his mistakes early in his F1 career and earned a 7th placed Championship finish in his first season. Alonso’s return to Renault saw Kovalainen go the other way to McLaren where he won the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, but at Lotus will be looking to improve on a disappointing 2009 campaign.

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