‘New’ Kovalainen plans for return to top team
But the Finn has this week rejected recent speculation that, despite his 2012 contract, he might be set to immediately defect from Caterham to Lotus (nee Renault).
He credits Caterham, formerly known as Team Lotus, for helping him to resurrect his form and reputation after a difficult early career with bigger teams.
2008 Hungary winner Kovalainen, 30, insists is has not been too hard in 2010 and 2011 – after struggling alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren – to race without the prospect of even a single point.
"I have reset my goals," he explained to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
"Each race was an opportunity for me to show my potential as a driver.
"At the same time I want to show the paddock that the new Kovalainen is different from the one at Renault and McLaren. So that I'm ready for 'day X' on which a place becomes available at a top team.
"In some ways it would already interest me to see how I would have done (recently) in a winning car. I think some people would be surprised," added Kovalainen.