Kovalainen: "I don’t really like Piquet Junior so much"

Heikki Kovalainen has given a noteworthy insight into his relationship with his Renault team colleague Nelson Piquet Jr.


Finn Kovalainen has had a difficult start to his rookie season as the French squad’s race driver, after testing for the team last year.


Waiting in the wings in the Renault pit garage, meanwhile, is 21-year-old Piquet Jr, who filled Kovalainen’s test-seat shoes this year and wants to move into a racing cockpit no later than 2008.



In a blithe interview with ITV, Kovalainen, 25, was asked which famous racer he most admired — 1992 title winner Nigel Mansell or triple world champion Nelson Piquet.


He answered: “To be honest I don’t really know them so well -– it was too early for me when they were racing.


“(But) I don’t really like Piquet Junior so much, so maybe Mansell.”