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All things considered, Heikki's happy

Sunday 23rd March 2008

Heikki Kovalainen was content with a podium finish after his five-grid-slot penalty severely compromised his weekend in Malaysia.

The Stewards handed Kovalainen and team-mate Lewis Hamilton the penalty after they were deemed to have blocked their rivals in qualifying.

Kovalainen made steady albeit unspectacular progress through the field and managed to secure third place behind Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica.

And considering his travails in qualy, the Finn was happy with his performance.

"I think we have to be pleased with the result," he said

"After yesterday's penalty it was going to be quite hard for us. Our strategy worked well and I was able to be in clear air all the time.

"I had a bit of trouble in the first stint with graining but the car worked pretty well. At the last stint I turned engine down and kept it home.

"It was a good day, but I would have liked to be a few positions higher, but this was the most we could do today."

The 27-year-old revealed that his fitness training is beginning to pay dividends, but complained about the graining of the tyres on his McLaren.

He said: "It is always tough but I felt fairly good after the race, no big problems. We worked hard with the team and my doctor to make sure I am in better shape than last year. I think the work has paid out."

"It was always going to be the laps at the end of the stint that we felt were stronger relative to the others. Early on in the stints graining was compromising our pace a little bit, which is why team kept me on track longer.

"It was the right thing to do as I was able to jump Jarno (Trulli) and bring it home."

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