Kovalainen more confident over hydraulics

Heikki Kovalainen is cautiously optimistic about the Lotus hydraulics system as the second Grand Prix of the season approaches. The Finn was the only finisher for any of Formula 1's three new teams in Bahrain and is sure that his car's reliability is continuing to improve, despite a selection of niggles.

With Lotus and fellow debutants Virgin Racing having suffered a number of hydraulics-related glitches throughout winter testing, the former was delighted as both cars were officially classified at the end of the season-opening race, despite Trulli stopping on his final lap.

"I am quite satisfied with how our team has solved these problems," Kovalainen explained to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat. "Of course, it's still 'touch wood' - Jarno came to a halt just at the end of the first race but he got through it pretty much without any problems.

"It's just such a complex hydraulics system. It has a lot of bending in it and parts linked up to others; they are a bit weak and starting to leak in some points - once that happens, you lose power steering."

Despite the natural teething troubles of any new team in the sport, the former Renault and McLaren driver understands the differences between a brand-new team and his former workplaces.

"There should always be some pressure on, so that the system works," he continued. "It's a bit old-fashioned but I don't think that this is a beastly system; when it works, everything is okay, but it's just too uncertain and not quite up to date."

Source: GPUPDATE