A rare hereditary disease was discovered in former racing driver Heikki Kovalainen. Now he will have to undergo dangerous heart surgery.
Former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen has a rare illness and is therefore no longer allowed to do sports and should avoid excessive stress. This was discovered on him last November. Now the 42-year-old told the Finnish newspaper “Iltalehti”: “It’s a hereditary disease and I can’t do anything about it. It’s good that it has now been discovered.”
Since the Finn found out about it, he has studied it intensively and even traveled to Japan to find out more about it and talk to doctors about it. The ex-racing driver’s aortic enlargement is life-threatening. The main danger of such an aneurysm is that the affected artery ruptures.
“Such a big operation” on an open heart
That’s why Kovalainen is considering open-heart surgery. He told the newspaper: “It is such a large operation that there is always the risk of the worst happening.” Nevertheless, the former Renault Formula 1 driver probably wants to take the risk in order to lead a more normal life again.
Kovalainen competed in the premier class of motorsport from 2007 to 2013. He drove for Renault (2007), McLaren (2008 to 2009), Lotus/Caterham (2010 to 2013) and Lotus (2013). In 2008 he won the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Finn then competed in the Japanese Super GT. However, due to his illness, he had to stop his racing career.