Heikki Kovalainen has confirmed that he requires open-heart surgery due to a pro𒅌bಞlem with his aorta.

The former F1 driver has 🌃been diagnosed♛ with ascending aortic aneurysm.

It is a condition which means Kovalainen is not suffering any symptoms. But a medical test before a rallying event revealed that he had a⛎n issue.

The condition is a bulge in the artery closest▨ to the heart. If untreated it can rupture which would be life-threatening.

Kovalainen, now 42, told : "At the꧃ end of last season, I decided to have a thorough physical examination at the doctor.

"The idea was to check that nꦯo bigger problem wa♉s found, but then this was revealed.

"It's a hereditary disease that I can'✨t do anything about. It's good that it was discovered now. 

"Usually, this problem is asymptomatic, exceꦺpt when it first 🐼occurs."

Kovalainen is now a rally car driver🔯 who has put on hold his plans to enter the 2024 Japanese Rally Championship.

From 2007 to 2013 he raced in Formula 1, racking up 112 entr🏅ies.

The 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix was ❀🔯his sole victory.

He was the teammate of Lewis Ham❀ilton at McLaren in 2008.

Kovalainen also♏ drove for Renault, Team Lotus, Catꦐerham and Lotus F1.