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I have nothing to prove - Kovalainen

Chris Medland November 2, 2012 « McLaren deal not a distraction - Perez | Chilton meets Marussia demands »
Heikki Kovalainen: "If I'm not good enough here to stay just with my own skills then so be it" © Sutton Images
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Heikki Kovalainen says he has nothing to prove to Caterham amid uncertainty over his future with the team.

Having been part of Caterham since its debut as Lotus in 2010, Kovalainen has yet to be confirmed for next season as team-mate Vitaly Petrov quietly impresses while bringing significant sponsorship to the team. Kovalainen admits he is still waiting for Caterham to decide whether to offer him a new deal, but he says he does not have to prove anything to the team's hierarchy during the final three races of the season.

"If that's the case I think it's surprising," Kovalainen told ESPN in an exclusive interview. "I think they know what they get with me and if they think it's not enough they have to take someone else then I don't think it would have any effect. I don't think I need to prove anything; I think I've proven through this year enough. I've been two times in Q2 and I'm getting the maximum out of my car regularly so I don't think I need to prove anything."

Kovalainen also said that he would not bring sponsorship to the team, and that there is nothing he can do if somebody with money takes his seat.

"No, if that's the case then that's the case; there's nothing I can do about it. The fact is I don't bring any money, I told my management not to collect money, I don't want to do that. If somebody was coming and backing me and supporting me then fine, but I don't like that idea. If I'm not good enough here to stay just with my own skills then so be it, it doesn't bother me too much. That's life.

"That's how the world is going nowadays, that's what the teams need, they need money so if that's what our team is going to do then it's their decision and there's nothing I can do about it. I just make sure that I drive the car flat out until I hear anything and make sure that I get everything out of it."

Chris Medland is assistant editor at ESPNF1

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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Chris Medland is assistant editor at ESPNF1 Chris Medland, who in his youth even found the Pacific GPs entertaining, talked his way in to work at the British Grand Prix and was somehow retained for three years. He also worked on the BBC's F1 output prior to becoming assistant editor ahead of the 2011 season

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