I want to build on my achievements: Kovalainen

Paris: The last two years have been all about learning and development for Caterham F1 (formerly known as Team Lotus), one of the three new teams which made their debut in 2010. Though they have left the other two debutants way behind, the team is yet to score a single point.

However, many expect this situation to change in 2012. In an exclusive interview to IBNlive.com, the team's star driver Heikki Kovalainen, who raced for teams like Renault and McLaren before joining Caterham F1 in 2010, talks about the team's goals for the new season and the return of fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen to the sport.

With what objective do you start the 2012 season personally, and for the team?

For me it's about building on what I've achieved in the last couple of years. I think it's clear my performances have been as good as at any time of my career and the key is to keep pushing whenever I can. For the team it's about keeping up the challenge to take us into the midfield pack.

This will be your third year with the team. How different is this season going to be, compared to the previous two which many say were learning years for the team?

We never stop learning, so in that way it's no different, but last year we were racing kind of on our own, well ahead of the two teams who joined the sport when we did, and just behind the midfield, so the pressure is now on for us to move into that pack.

The team is yet to score a point. Will that change this season? How important is it for you to start scoring points from 2012?

It's still too early to say whether that's going to change this year, but it's certainly something we want to do.

There have been many changes from the previous season... team name, your teammate. Your comment on teaming up with Vitaly Petrov (who replaced Jarno Trulli).

He's been a good addition to the team, but really I focus on my performance and doing the best job I can. I'm sure it's the same for him and from what we've seen in testing, we'll work well together.

How has the build up to the Australian Grand Prix been? Are you satisfied with the way the car has performed in pre-season tests?

The tests were pretty good. Test 2 didn't go to plan but we caught up in test 3 and it looks like the car's a good step on from 2011 so we'll see where we really are in Australia.

How crucial is this year as far as your future with the team is concerned?

It's as crucial as any year is.

Your fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen is making a comeback. Your comments. Are you relishing the prospect of competing with him again?

Not more than competing with anyone else. It's good for Finland to have two Finnish drivers on the grid, but I'm more interested in my own performance.