Another Finn in F1?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Heikki Kovalainen, currently racing in British F3, has been highly spoken of by the Fortec team boss he raced for this season. He finished the season third, and is expected to run several F1 tests over the winter for several teams.

[nichosnz 0]

You are not expecting to see him racing F1 next year are you Jens 2004 is more likely.

Kovalainen

Raikkonen

Hakkinen

Makkinen

Kankkunen

Vatanen is there some sort of pattern here?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yes, -nen is a VERY common ending for a last name in Finland along with the Swedish heritage Finnish names ending in -man and -strom.

Im not expecting Kovalainen to be in F1 next year for sure, but maybe a test driver role or something is possible, at Sauber for example... Maybe he'll be racing in 2004 or 2005.

[nichosnz 0]

Gronholm and Rosberg don't fit into the -nen category though. How common are -holm and -berg.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Just as common, I just posted real quick because I was at school. But definitely -berg and -holm (both Swedish origin) are common, and once you start looking into the phone books there are many same, but -nen is definitely the most common one, while the other four are ver common as well.

[nichosnz 0]

Anyway what is Kovalainen doing 2003, F3 again or F3000?

[daz 0]

Gee - if this carries on there will no longer be a World championship, just the Finnish championships...

Seriously though, Finland is having a great time at the moment with young and upcoming drivers. Jens, any idea why there are so many now coming up from your side of the world? (I.e. Are there driver development programmes etc..).

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Just the fact that in Finland motorsport is downright popular, with fathers buying karts as birthday presents for their 6 year olds and so forth. Motorbikes are also very popular as you can get a license for a 125cc at age 16, instead of having to wait til youre 18 to get your car. I know Im getting a 125, and a lot of kids have their dads who have had a bike since 16 get them into offroad and trials at a young age.

There are more and more young drivers from Finland emerging all the time onto the international scene. Im not sure what Kovalainen will be racing next year, probably another British F3 season with Fortec or then F3000? A test driver role is also possible.

[nichosnz 0]

I think he should attempt a full time F3000 season, if the offers are coming. And a part time F1 testing role.

I still feel that this is the best way (for most people) to develop into the best F1 driver they can be.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Definitely International F3000 is a good way to step into F1 as you get to use the same tracks as the F1 guys, which helps a lot come your rookie F1 season.

[nichosnz 0]

Less things to learn when stepping into F1, and if you test F1 also there are even fewer again.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Doing a season as test driver either part time or full time is very helpful, because it does allow you to learn what goes on within an F1 team and how things are done at races.

[nichosnz 0]

Which has often turned out very helpful for a driver in their rookie season. If they have gone that route.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

We have seen a lot of the newer drivers completely skip F3000 and come straight from F3. Remember that back in 96-97 Trulli went from karts to F1 within a year!!

[nichosnz 0]

Yes, I know and I think brilliant as some of them were, I think they could have been even better rookies than they were, had they done F3000/testing.

[daz 0]

Some of them probably would be even better had they had a bit more motor racing experience behind them.

I also think certain drivers (Sato, Yoong) etc... could do with going back to F3, F3000 etc.. as they are so obviously out of their depth in F1.

[nichosnz 0]

Massa also, need to settle down stop crashing. Massa is not out of his depth it is just that testing or F3000 are a bit less public learning ground, than F1

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Daz hit it right on the bullseye, Yoong and Sato are definitely not fit for F1 yet.

[nichosnz 0]

I don't know if Yoong ever will be as he is slow in F1, despite the fact we know he is not a slow driver. Sato however needs to understand that you score points by finishing well, not having the most crashes.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think he has too much pressure on him because of the whole Honda thing and being the first Asian driver in the sport with an actual chance to race for points. Once he calms down he will start doing so.

[nichosnz 0]

Yeah probably. If he can settle down. If it is in his nature to do so.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

He did win British F3, a very competitive and not the easiest series to win. The cars though can be driven harder than F1, that is to say that Sato could be himself in the slower F3 cars.

[nichosnz 0]

He needs to understand that not all cars can be driven the same way. Imagine driving a Ferrari, then trying to do the same in a Lada, you would kill yourself.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Very true, the main difference between F3 and F1 is engine power and stopping power, and the fact that F1 cars arent as easy to handle as their little siblings.

[nichosnz 0]

F1 is the top of sinlge seater racing, it is supposed to be harder than karts, F3, F3000.