Q: What keeps you awake at night?
Heikki Kovalainen: Nothing really. I’ve always slept well, whether I’m at home or travelling. And if I’m worried about something I’ll deal with it, so nothing really keeps me awake.

Q: If you could banish one thing from your life - for the rest of your life - what would it be?
HK: Honestly nothing. I have a really happy life and I don’t have anything in the way that I’d want to get rid of.

Q: What’s your earliest memory?
HK: I can remember playing with my family when I was about three. There’s nothing specific really, it’s just sort of an image of being with my parents and playing some sort of game.

Q: Which person can’t you get through a day without talking to?
HK: My girlfriend Catherine - I speak to her every day.

Q: What’s been your most valuable ‘life’ lesson?
HK: I’ve had a few good lessons, but the most important have been from my dad. He’s always told me to work hard and play fair and that’s put me in a good position throughout my life

Q: Who do you most admire?
HK: There isn’t anyone in particular, who I admire more than anyone else. I’ve never really had any heroes. I guess I just do my own thing and want to write my own stories.

Q: What can’t you live without?
HK: Well, I could probably live without any of the things we all carry around today. If I had to, I’d get used to not having a phone with me. But I’d rather not…

Q: When were you happiest?
HK: Right now. I can honestly say that my life right now is as good as it’s ever been

Q: If you could give your younger self some advice what would it be?
HK: There are quite a few things I’d tell the younger version of myself, but it would mostly be about saying that, whatever happens, it’s all going to work out well.

Q: If your racing career ended after this season what would you do with the rest of your life?
HK: If my F1 career finished, I’d like to try rallying. But if it was all motorsport that stopped I’d have time to perfect my golf game.

Q: What do you wish you were better at?
HK: It has to be golf. I started playing pretty late and I know my game keeps improving. But it’s like anything that’s a challenge - the closer you get to being able to master it the smaller the margins of improvement are. I’m getting there.

Q: If you had to stay in one place for the rest of your life, where would it be?
HK: I’d probably say my house in Switzerland, but we travel so much it’s really hard to see myself in one place anywhere.

Q: What animal best reflects your personality?
HK: I’m not really sure there is just one animal that best represents me.

Q: What is more important in life than winning?
HK: Friends and family - they’re the most important thing in life by far.

Q: What would you spend your last dollar on?
HK: 25 golf balls at a driving range please!

Q: What is your greatest weakness?
HK: I’m a perfectionist, which can be a good and a bad thing.

Q: What’s the best advice you have been given?
HK: It’s the same as my earlier answer really. Work hard for what you want and never give up.

Q: What scares you?
HK: Nothing really. I’m not bothered about snakes or spiders, flying, heights or anything that freaks some people out.

Q: What is your worst habit and what is your best habit?
HK: Ha! I don’t know what my best habit is but my worst is definitely losing things. I do have a habit of leaving sunglasses around and then forgetting them.

Q: What’s your ultimate comfort food?
HK: It’s probably ice cream. I don’t eat too much of it, obviously, but I do like ice cream.

Q: What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a race?
HK: Clean my golf clubs so they’re ready for the first round I can play when I get home.

Q: What event can’t you forget but wish you could?
HK: Nothing really comes to mind. I don’t really look back, so even if I’d want to forget something it’s pretty easy to do so

Q: What’s your favourite smell?
HK: Petrol!

Q: Are you the man you always thought you would become?
HK: I don’t really know how to answer that. I guess because I’m happy now, doing the job I do and with my home life, I’d say yes. But I don’t really think I knew how it would turn out when I was younger.