Heikki Kovalainen will replace fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus for the final two Formula One races of the season.

Ferrari-bound Raikkonen is out of Sunday's United States Grand Prix, as well as Brazil next week, because of a back injury.

Lotus had tried to persuade Michael Schumacher to come out of retirement, without success.

His spokeswoman said Lotus approached the seven times world champion to try and tempt him into a temporary return.