Heikki Kovalainen was teammates with McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton for two years. But we all know his struggle to match his ex-mate’s pace on track, together. In 2008, while Hamilton won the championship, Heikki came seventh. In 2009, Hamilton came in fifth, but it was twelfth for Kovalainen. And in one of his recent interviews, he explains why he found it a hard time against the now six-time champion. According to him, he was lacking in the braking area places. That was his main area of struggle. His opponent was able to apply the brake harder and later, and was able to the apex and make exit in same as before.
Lewis path track was more of the square than him, thus brakes were applied later. This also made for shorter paths of exit. Lewis is able to take care of his tires very well. He applies breakers less and applies at places where it hurts the least. He also reveals, that he gave this same advice to Valterri Bottas in 2017, who is his Lewis current teammate. He advised him to go for Briton’s style of entering and exiting his corners. He claims Lewis to be good at driving, at places with very less aero load. he is all about the brakes and grip on tyres, where he found himself lost against his competitor.
