Question: What do you associate with this (fuji) circuit?
Heikki Kovalainen: Everyone remembers the rain from last year! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such heavy rain and limited visibility - they were probably the worst conditions I’ve experienced in my entire racing career. On the other hand, I had one of my best races in Formula One here last year, coming second - which was a great way to round off my first season as a Grand Prix driver. I also think everyone thinks about the mountain, Mount Fuji - especially this year, when we could see it properly for the first time! At this weekend’s race, luck was not on my side - but that’s racing - and I’m looking forward to this coming weekend in Shanghai and hopefully more luck.
Question: Is there anything you have to have provided in your hotel room or any luxuries you always bring with you from home?
Heikki Kovalainen: I’m not too fussy about that, but I do like electrical gadgets so I never travel anywhere without my mobile phone, my MP3 player and my laptop.
Question: What do you have for breakfast on a race Sunday?
Heikki Kovalainen: I have cereal with orange juice - not with milk, which some people think is unusual. I also have brown toast and a couple of hard-boiled eggs.
Question: How do you spend the morning on race Sunday?
Heikki Kovalainen: Usually a relaxed breakfast at the Brand Centre for European races or at the hotel on flyaways, then some marketing appearances, a meeting with my engineers and the drivers’ parade. Any other time is usually spent relaxing or preparing for the race mentally and physically.
Question: How do you like to spend the hour or so before the race?
Heikki Kovalainen: Just relaxing, and trying to focus on the race. We’re usually pretty busy right up until the start of the race with appearances and the drivers’ parade, so you don’t get much time to yourself. I stay in my room and just get ready on my own.
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