Kovalainen comfortable with pressure
Kovalainen will hope to replicate Alonso's success at Renault
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Wednesday, 20, Dec 2006 08:40
New Renault Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen says he is comfortable replacing two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in the team and is undaunted by the pressure to perform.
Kovalainen was the team's test driver last season and is confident that, having been able to keep pace with Alonso and team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella during testing, he can transfer that speed into a race situation in 2007.
He said: "There will be a lot of pressure, but mainly because I want to get the results, not because I am filling someone else's shoes. I don't feel I have any more pressure than I would have had replacing someone else.
"Even this year when I was testing I always put pressure on myself to do good times and be consistent and to always squeeze everything out of myself and the car."
Renault will be relying on the Finn to adapt quickly to the challenge of F1 as they look to retain their constructor's championship and will hope that he can also provide on-track support for Fisichella.
The 25-year-old is confident in his ability to achieve results from the very start of the season.
He said: "I don't think I will have to wait until the end of the year to win a race. I hope I can win the first race in Melbourne if everything goes well."
Renault engineering director Pat Symonds said that they were excited by the potential of the Finn and felt that he would be quick, although they might have to accept some mistakes from the rookie.