Kovalainen would spend whole career at McLaren
At the Hungaroring on Thursday, the Mercedes-powered team confirmed that Kovalainen will in 2009 race for a second consecutive year alongside teammate Lewis Hamilton.
The Finn currently trails championship leader Hamilton's tally by 30 points, which had raised speculation McLaren might want to replace Kovalainen.
"I want to become a successful driver in this team and hopefully we can announce at some point in the future that I can stay here for many, many years," he told reporters in Budapest.
"I would be happy to finish my career at this team to be honest," Kovalainen added.
07/31/08 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen will stay at McLaren-Mercedes in 2009, the team revealed at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Finn joined the Woking based squad this year.
His contract was for one guaranteed year, but with an option for McLaren to renew.
"We welcomed Heikki on board at the start of the year. He is under contract and will race for us in the 2009 season," chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said.
Kovalainen trails championship leader Lewis Hamilton's tally by 30 points, which had raised speculation McLaren might want to replace him for 2009.