Question: Heikki, with a season at McLaren already under your belt, do you feel better prepared than you did a year ago?
Heikki Kovalainen: For sure. It’s easy to forget, but I only joined Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in December 2007 so my preparations for the ‘08 season happened very quickly. Of course, I felt comfortable straight away but it still takes time to understand exactly how each member of the team is able to help you. For this year, I feel much more integrated into the whole operation and know we can really hit the ground running when we start testing next week.
Question: When did you start your preparations for 2009?
Heikki Kovalainen: After Brazil, I took a short break but was soon back at the McLaren Technology Centre preparing with my engineers for the new season. I tested a hybrid car in Jerez before Christmas and that was very helpful actually - although it wasn’t a precise replica of the MP4-24, it gave you a good idea of what to expect with the new aero levels, KERS device and slick tyres. I think the new breed of cars will suit me very well. I’ve also been training in the snow of northern Finland - it’s the best place in the world for me to relax and prepare for the year ahead.
Question: What are your targets for the season ahead?
Heikki Kovalainen: I feel much better prepared ahead of the new season. I think you can extract a lot of performance simply from good mental preparation, and I really want to look at the positives ahead of me this year rather than becoming too focused on any difficulties. Racing alongside Lewis is the ultimate benchmark and I’d like to think we’ll both be challenging for the drivers’ championship and helping the team to win the constructors’ championship.
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