Heikki Kovalainen
was one of the drivers who animated
Formula 1
during the 2007 and 2013 seasons, when he had to participate in the highest category of motorsport.
In 2008 he was a teammate of
Lewis Hamilton
at
McLaren Mercedes
and won his only race, at the Hungarian GP.
Recently he was participating in the World Rally Championship but had to put a pause on his career due to a serious heart problem.
"It is a hereditary disease about which I cannot do anything. It is good that it has been discovered now. Generally, this problem is asymptomatic, except when it occurs for the first time," said the former Finnish pilot, in an interview in his country. , regarding the health problem that prevents him from being in a racing car.
The 42-year-old pilot was recently detected to have a
dilated ascending aorta
, after several medical tests, and will have to undergo complicated open-heart surgery that promises to banish any type of future risk.
Heikki Kovalainen with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton at the 2008 Singapore GP.
"At the end of last season, I decided to undergo a thorough physical examination at the doctor. The idea was to check that no major problem was found, but then something like this came up,"
Iltalehti
, from Finland, told the media.
"Generally, this problem is asymptomatic, except when it occurs for the first time," added the Finnish pilot, with a serious tone and facing the dramatic situation he has to face.
Heikki Kovalainen made the decision for the risky operation together with specialists and said: “It is such a big operation that there is always the risk of the worst.
However, the aorta has dilated so much that the surgical threshold is exceeded.
Plus, the operation will have to be done at some point anyway.
Therefore, postponing it to the next few years makes little sense,” he explained.
Doctors warned him that he should stay away from competition until he fully recovers from the operation.
“The odds are on my side.
However, if it happens that I can't continue running despite the operation, so be it.
My main objective is to return to a normal life,” said the Nordic man who, apparently, is contemplating the possibility of never competing in a racing car again.
Heikki Kovalainen
participated in
112 races
during the
six seasons
he was in
Formula 1
, in which he achieved a pole position in Silverstone 2008 and a victory, that same year, in Hungary.
During his stay in the top category of motorsport, he was part of the McLaren, Renault, Lotus and Caterham teams.
His best result in the drivers' championship was seventh place, achieved in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
The Finnish driver of the Lotus team, Heikki Kovalainen, driving his car at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix EFE/Franck Robichon
Other important achievements that the man from Suomussalmi, Finland had, were in 2004 when he achieved first place in the World Series with 192 points and six victories, as a driver for the Pons team, and in 2016 he became champion in the Japanese Super GT, of the hand of the Lexus team.