Heikki Kovalainen says Caterham's Q2 appearance in Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying was a vindication for the team
Heikki Kovalainen said Caterham always believed it could get into Q2 in Bahrain, after claiming the team's best qualifying result of the 2012 season so far with 16th on the Sakhir grid

It was the first time Caterham had progressed beyond the first part of qualifying since the team rebranded itself from its former Team Lotus identity this year. The squad's last Q2 appearance came at Spa in 2011.
"We thought that with the conditions today, being hot and pretty windy, we might be able to use the option tyres to get us into Q2, and it worked out," said Kovalainen.
"We've also saved a set of tyres for tomorrow, and with the degradation rates we've seen yesterday and today it's clear tyre management is going to play a big role tomorrow."
The Finn described the result as a vindication for Caterham after it had appeared to fall short of its goals for 2012 in the opening grands prix.
"We've worked really hard to put ourselves in a position where we can fight and today we showed that we are close enough to record results like we did today," said Kovalainen.
"We made progress over the winter, and even though we haven't really shown it yet this season, today's the sort of result we knew we could put in, so it's a great day, for everyone in Caterham F1 Team back at the factory and here on track."
Caterham technical director Mark Smith said the performance represented clear steps forward.
"This morning we had a very good FP3 and the work we have done overnight has paid off with Heikki's result today," he said.
"Everything on his car worked as we had planned and this is a clear sign that the whole team is making progress."
Kovalainen's team-mate Vitaly Petrov was 20th after struggling to make the most of his soft tyres, but will gain a place from Pastor Maldonado's grid penalty.
About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Teams | Caterham F1 |
Author | Tom Mallett |
Heikki Kovalainen says Caterham's Q2 appearance in Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying was a vindication for the team
Trending
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How crucial marginal calls will decide the Red Bull vs Mercedes battle in F1 2021
The longer Red Bull can maintain a performance edge over Mercedes, the better the odds will be in the team’s favour against the defending world champions. But as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, many more factors will be critical in the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle
The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time.