[leijggeds]

I can't help but think that the Italian GP was there for Kovy to win.

Massa would've won, Lewis would've won, I even think Kimi would've won from that position!

[worldofwarcraft]

i mentioned this in a Donkey of the Race post

[lionsiy]

I can't help but think that the Italian GP was there for Kovy to win.

Massa would've won, Lewis would've won, I even think Kimi would've won from that position!

HK's expression on the podium suggests he knows it too!

[leijggeds]

Just makes me wonder how 'over-rated' he is. Supposedly a solid driver, a good #2 in Kovy's position would've won the race.

[mikefertynnz]

I think he should have won but that takes nothing away from Vettel.

Perhaps the McLaren isn't as good as we think

[Avoireeideree]

You would expect a McLaren to beat a Toro Rosso, wouldn't you? So, yes, Heikki should've won. But he didn't and we had a new winner.

[TepSteade]

I can't help but think that the Italian GP was there for Kovy to win.

Massa would've won, Lewis would've won, I even think Kimi would've won from that position!

Well, I'm inclined to agree with you. That said, I think its fair to say Vettel had pace, I'd like to think that even Lewis without his extra stop would have struggled to have beaten Vettel.

Lewis, although amazingly quick at some points in the race, used up his tyres much too soon, so his amazingly quick pace wasn't sustainable, so as to whether he would have won is questionable, as I think Vettel may well have had more pace if he needed.

[leijggeds]

Great for Vettel, he's in a bad car and getting the maximum out of it.

Different story for Kovy, good car but struggling to get the maximum out of the car in the races.

He's usually fighting with Kubica - slightly inferior car and getting the maximum out of it.

At this stage of the season he should be getting closer to Massa.

[Fosavoa]

agree with everyone's comments. I've tried hard all year to give HK the benefit of the doubt, but as I said in another thread, he seems to be no more than a solid#2. Quick in a fast car, but not capable of maximizing the capability of being in a McLaren. I can think of at least 4 drivers that would have gotten more out of that car right now.

[leijggeds]

he seems to be no more than a solid#2.

He's not even that.

So far a #2 at best.

A solid #2 will feature on the podium regularly which is what Barrichello and DC have done.

[Retapleapse]

I don't quite see how Kovalainen should have won purely because he was in a McLaren

[shodulsilfeli]

As someone has already pointed out, his podium and interview expression was that of a guy who expects to be fired later in the day. It was a really sorrowful look.

[Dyerryjex]

I don't think we should be that hard on Kovalainen and I certainly wouldn't call him the donkey of the race. He was after all second and beat 18 other guys. He may have driven a top car, but second place is not an awful result in such conditions. IMO a lot better than P5 in a top car in dry conditions (a result we have witnessed a lot during years). Strategical choices and proper setup are actually even more important aspects in achieving a strong result than just pure driving and unlike Hamilton Heikki got these right. For this he doesn't get acknowledgement. Hamilton may have won from Heikki's position, but I'm not sure about Massa and Räikkönen to be honest.

I think the most important difference between Hamilton and Kovalainen may be the approach to races, or at least this was what I thought after Grand Prix. While following Vettel, instead of hamiltonesque approach "I'm going to catch him at every cost!" Heikki as a more cautious guy may have thought something like "How to bring this car safely home in such difficult conditions" instead. And hence no tiny attack on Vettel, but keeping his safe P2.

[ProomoSam]

I guess we should'nt be to suprised that Kovi could not beat a Newey designed car with a Ferrari engine in it. However its a shame Vettel isnt in a Macca next year because he has better race pace than most of the drivers on the grid.

I do feel kind of sorry for Kovi he seems like a nice guy but is ending up like the kind of teammate Fisi was to Alonso at Renault :-(

[Fosavoa]

I don't think we should be that hard on Kovalainen and I certainly wouldn't call him the donkey of the race. He was after all second and beat 18 other guys. He may have driven a top car, but second place is not an awful result in such conditions. IMO a lot better than P5 in a top car in dry conditions (a result we have witnessed a lot during years). Strategical choices and proper setup are actually even more important aspects in achieving a strong result than just pure driving and unlike Hamilton Heikki got these right. For this he doesn't get acknowledgement. Hamilton may have won from Heikki's position, but I'm not sure about Massa and Räikkönen to be honest.

I think the most important difference between Hamilton and Kovalainen may be the approach to races, or at least this was what I thought after Grand Prix. While following Vettel, instead of hamiltonesque approach "I'm going to catch him at every cost!" Heikki as a more cautious guy may have thought something like "How to bring this car safely home in such difficult conditions" instead. And hence no tiny attack on Vettel, but keeping his safe P2.

good points and he has shown some aggression in a couple of races, but overall his performances have been wanting in comparison to the other top 3 guys out there ( although kimi hasn't been on form these past couple of weeks. But he's the current WDC and has a lengthy resume of phenominal racing, even in a weaker McLaren in years past)
He just hasn't displayed the gumption to fight for wins and or haul in more points for the team. I

[NikkitaZ]

Kovalainen winning a F1 race? Maybe if he's running 2nd and the race leader drops out just before the end of it, like in Hungary.

[teodaschwartia]

Great for Vettel, he's in a bad car and getting the maximum out of it.

Getting the maximum out of it for sure, but bad car? They were in a racelong duel with the BMWs at a dry Spa Francorchamps. In no way does that suggest a bad car.

[Fosavoa]

Kovalainen winning a F1 race? Maybe if he's running 2nd and the race leader drops out just before the end of it, like in Hungary.

yup

[wrewsTear]

I have seen this happen behind the SC earlier..he just cannot keep up with the car in front at the start..here with a start under SC, even a rookie like Vettel got away pretty easily..

If it was Lewis in P2 he would have been in P1 after the first chicane or at the most the end of the lap.

[TepSteade]

Though I have not rated Heikki as I have found him to be dissapointing, I do think its important to point out that whilst DC and RB were solid "number 2s" in that they were regularly on the podium.

Its also important to note that in this current era of F1, the top 14 cars are split by 1s. So competition is much much tighter than ever before.