Heikki Kovalainen admits his Method 1 profession could have been lower brief as a result of he cut up with Flavio Briatore.

The now 40-year-old Finn was as soon as certainly one of F1’s most promising kids, having initially debuted for Briatore-run Renault earlier than being signed by McLaren as Lewis Hamilton’s title-winning teammate in 2008.

However Kovalainen then terminated his administration contract with Briatore late in 2009, when Briatore was banned from Method 1 over the ’crashgate’ scandal.

“It was the largest mistake of my profession,” Kovalainen, who now competes within the All Japan Rally Championship, instructed Viaplay.

“It might undoubtedly have been price staying on the identical aspect of the desk with Flavio reasonably than going to the opposite aspect of the desk,” he smiled.

Certainly, his subsequent transfer after McLaren was to the Lotus-Caterham outfit, which turned out to be one of many slowest on the grid till it collapsed.

“When my McLaren contract was ending and I needed to rapidly get a brand new contract, whereas the drivers managed by Flavio didn’t have an excellent license at that time,” stated Kovalainen.

By 2010, Briatore’s Method 1 ban was lifted.

“If I had simply waited till January of the next 12 months, Flavio would have had his punishment reversed and he might have returned,” the Finn admitted.

“Sure, Flavio might have made higher offers for me, and he had made the very best offers of my profession earlier than that episode.”

Kovalainen is now specializing in increase his rallying profession, which thus far in Japan has been profitable.

“I’m 100% targeted on rallying now,” he confirmed. “I get pleasure from watching WRC – I keep up all night time and day watching these days.”