JULY 5, 2012

Kovalainen: next year I don't want to be in this position

Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen believes he is at the prime period of his career and wants to return to the top of F1 as soon as possible. The Finn is out of contract at the end of the year and says he needs to look at what's available before taking any decisions.

Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen believes he is at the prime period of his career and wants to return to the top of F1 as soon as possible. The Finn is out of contract at the end of the year and says he needs to look at what's available before taking any decisions.

Kovalainen, who had spells at Renault (2007) and McLaren (2008-9), is one of the many drivers spoken in the same sentence as Ferrari with a view to 2013, but said at Silverstone that he is not yet in serious talks with anyone.

"My personal target is to return to the top as soon as possible and who knows where?

"Next year I don't want to be in this position, I want to be in the mix to show what I can do."

Kovalainen did not rule out staying with Caterham at the conclusion of his three-year deal but admitted that there was initial disappointment with this year's Caterham CT01 chassis.

"Maybe we were expecting a bit more at the start of the season which was slightly disappointing," he admitted, "but we are improving in the right areas. It's a bit too early to say about next year. I need to wait and see how e're improving and at some point see what's available.

"I'm quite happy here but I want to be fighting at a good level. I have a good relationship with the team and it's not easy to build that sort of thing straight away but I'm not a 20-year-old kid, it's the prime time of my career. I feel comfortable and I'm physically and mentally tougher than I've even been.

"Nothing fazes me in the paddock now and in any kind of environment I can get the best out of the team and myself. I need to wait and see where we are heading and where everyone else is heading."