Heikki Kovalainen started his career in F1 as a test driver for Renault during the 2006 season. He is well-known for his performance in the 2004 Race of Champions, when he beat World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb in a WRC car which he had never sat in before. In the same event, he beat Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari 360 Modena.

Heikki Kovalainen has been outperforming teammate Giancarlo Fisichella in every single race of the 2007 season other than in the French Grand Prix after an accident with Jarno Trulli on the first lap. Brought into Renault in 2006 as an 'anti-Alonso' by Flavio Briatore, he was rumouredly dropped by the team after Renault signed back Fernando Alonso for season 2008 because he was perceived to be too competitive a teammate for Alonso. It was not long before McLaren snapped up the Finnish driver.