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Kovalainen still hopes for Formula One seat

ESPN Staff
December 23, 2013 « Pirelli boss unhappy with Red Bull criticism | Lotus 'no worse off than 80% of teams' »
Heikki Kovalainen arrives for the first of his two races for Lotus © Getty Images
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Heikki Kovalainen has admitted he remains uncertain whether he will be driving in Formula One next season, as hopes for a Caterham seat seem to be diminishing as the team look increasingly likely to field a pair of sponsored drivers.

Kovalainen subbed in for Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus at the final two races in 2013, but despite showing signs of promise in practice and qualifying, he failed to deliver any points in the USA or Brazil.

"I have been maintaining my training programme for Formula One as much as possible," he told broadcaster MTV3. "I will have a normal F1 driver's winter. The only difference to previous years is that I do not currently have a contract for next season.

"But this has happened more than once in my career, when I didn't know what awaited me for the future but eventually I had something.

"The most serious negotiations are with Caterham. But all the different factors need to come together. In any case, it should be clarified by the end of January, when the tests begin. But I am not going to end my career."

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