He shone in Formula 1 alongside Hamilton, retired and at 42 will have to undergo risky heart surgery

Heikki Kovalainen He was one of the pilots who encouraged the Formula 1 during the 2007 and 2013 seasons, when he had to participate in the highest category of motor sports. In 2008 he was a partner of Lewis Hamilton In MclarenMercedes and won his only race, at the Hungarian GP. He recently participated in the World Rally Championship but had to put his career on hold due to a serious heart problem.

“It is a hereditary disease for which I cannot do anything. It is good that it has been discovered now. Generally this problem is asymptomatic, except when it occurs for the first time,” the former Finnish driver said in an interview a of his country, regarding the health problem that prevents him from getting into a racing car.

The 42-year-old pilot was recently discovered with dilatation of the ascending aortaafter several medical studies, and will have to undergo a complicated open heart surgery which promises to remove any type of future risk.

“At the end of last season, I decided to undergo a thorough physical examination by the doctor. The idea was to check that no serious problem was found, but then something like this came up,” he told the media. Iltalehtifrom Finland.

“Generally this problem is asymptomatic, except when it occurs for the first time”, added the Finnish driver, with a serious tone and in the face of the dramatic situation he finds himself facing.

Heikki Kovalainen decided together with the specialists for the risky operation and said: “It is such a big operation that there is always the risk of the worst. However, the aorta dilated so much that it exceeded the surgical threshold. Furthermore, the operation will have to be performed sooner or later anyway. So postponing it to the next few years doesn’t make much sense,” he explained.

Doctors have warned him to stay away from competitions until he fully recovers from the operation. “The odds are on my side. However, if it happens that I cannot continue to run despite the operation, so be it. My main goal is to return to a normal life,” said the Nordic who, it seems, is contemplating the possibility of never competing in a race car again.

Heikki Kovalainen participated in 112 races during six seasons who was in the Formula 1, in which he achieved a pole position at Silverstone 2008 and a victory that same year in Hungary. During his time in the top category of motorsport, he was part of the McLaren, Renault, Lotus and Caterham teams. His best result in the drivers’ championship was seventh place, achieved in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Other important successes that the Finn from Suomussalmi achieved were in 2004 when he achieved first place in the World Series with 192 points and six victories, as a driver for the Pons team, and in 2016 he became champion of the Japanese Super GT, of the hand of Lexus team.