Q & A with Heikki Kovalainen

But the Finn feels he has become a stronger driver through 2008, and as he told journalists in Brazil, he believes the experiences of this year will help him begin next year as a title contender himself.

Q. It's the end of the year, how do you think your season went?

Heikki Kovalainen: It's disappointing not to have any more points, but what can we do? Just prepare better for next year and try to score points more regularly. On the positive side, the qualifying performance has been generally quite strong and even the race performances have improved. But obviously the last few races with technical issues I haven't finished. Overall it's still a positive season. I've learned a lot, I'm much better prepared for next year and I should be in better shape at the start of the next season.

Q. So you think you'll be a bit stronger next season?

HK: I think so. I'd like to think that's the case every year - you always try to be better than the year before. I'll just be trying to score more points.

Q. What have you learned with this team about getting a race rhythm together?

HK: Certainly setting up the car the right way, what I need from this car to get the most out of it, how to manage the tyres together with the setup and hopefully next year I can start the races near the front more often and that will make the races better straight away.

Q. How much would you say you have improved in terms of race performance, self-confidence and physical condition?

HK: I've improved a good chunk in all of those areas. I'm certainly fitter than last year, I feel a lot more comfortable mentally and physically in the car and with the team as well. I'm very relaxed here and then about the driving technique itself I think I've learned to drive this car better, improving the braking technique...everything. I don't think there's a particular area I need to focus on over the winter, just keep doing the same work we have done so far and improve every area little by little.

Q. You did have to change your driving style at Renault and this year - so you have had to adapt every year to a new car?

HK: Perhaps a little bit, but these last two years have been more of a change because the tyres have changed dramatically and next year it will be another big change and we have to really pay attention to that. I think I should be able to feel it and make changes accordingly.

Q. You're driving the same car as one of the guys who is going for the world championship, how do you see this weekend unfolding - what is the right approach?

HK: I think just to try and do the same that we do every race weekend. The performance of the car is very good, we have a strong package in any kind of conditions. Consistently we have had the best performance in any kind of conditions, whether it's cold or hot or wet or dry or hard or soft tyre, we have always been up there. Perhaps sometimes other teams have been a little stronger but we have always been somewhere near. There is no condition that we have struggled in and we should just try and do the same. Setup the car Friday, get a good idea of the tyres, try to qualify well and hopefully the reliability is good and we can finish the race. I haven't talked to anyone about making big changes this weekend.

Q. Do you sense that Lewis Hamilton feels much more emboldened now after that performance in China?

HK: No, nothing has changed. He has always been strong whether he has had a good performance or a bard performance he is confident. He can deal with the positives and negatives.

Q. So he hasn't changed much?

HK: I haven't noticed anything. I haven't seen anything that is different.

Q. What race really stands out for you this year?

HK: There have been a few good races - Magny-Cours was a good one. Spa actually the performance was quite good apart from losing a bit on the first corner and then the collision with Mark Webber. In general there have been some very good performances even though the results don't show it. So that's nothing to worry about.

Q. There were some quotes in the Finnish media suggesting you were a little bit frustrated at times having to move over for Lewis - that you had to move out of the way to avoid an accident. What are your feelings?

HK: I don't think that I said anything like that. But I have never said anything about moving over for him - the only time that I have decided to move over for him was at Hockenheim when he was clearly a lot faster and it was the right thing to do otherwise as a team we would have scored quite a lot less points. But apart from that, I feel comfortable in this team, I have nothing to be negative about or ashamed of. I have taken my first pole position, I have won a race and there are many positive things about this year. Over the winter we will have a look at things and try to improve for next year. I'd like to start the races higher up on the grid because it makes a big difference in terms of the result at the end of the race on Sunday instead of starting from fourth, fifth, six, starting from the front row. And with a bit less fuel I have a better chance of starting the race higher up. This year is my first year with a top team and next year we need to take a step forward. It is something we can talk about in the winter. Somebody told me that there were some quotes saying I was unhappy in the team, but I don't underline that at all. I have no reason to be unhappy, I am in the best car so the potential is there to fight for the victory.

Q. How did you find it adapting from the way Renault works to the way McLaren works. Did it take you a while?

HK: I don't feel it took too long to understand the basics how they work. Actually when they are running the car throughout the weekend it is not very different. We are attacking and dealing with the same things and the same kinds of issues. The team has more people involved, more people to talk to find some information and that has taken a little time. I am now starting to understand what it takes to get everything out of everybody. That's the only thing that's a bit different.

Q. Have you been in any way surprised at how competitive Lewis is?

HK: It's pretty much what I expected. Last year he had a very good year and learned a lot, arguably a lot more than I learned last year. But I have made good progress this year and for next year I am confident that I will have a very good opportunity if the team is able to produce a car that is as competitive as this year I have a very good chance to improve the results. I've not been surprised by Lewis's performance - he has done his job very well.