| Mika
Hakkinen entered the history books in 1999 when he became only the seventh
man to win two back-to-back World Championships. However, it could have
all been very different following a life-threatening accident in the 1995
Australian GP when the Finn fractured his skull.
The 32-year-old is entering his
ninth season with McLaren, having made his Formula1 debut with Lotus in
1991. Following a second year with the Lotus, and some time as a McLaren
test driver, he began racing with the Woking based team in 1993.
He waited a long time for his first
win, which caused controversy as the team asked his partner David Coulthard
to move over and allow the Finn to take victory in the 1997 European Grand
Prix. This win gave Hakkinen the confidence boost he appeared to need and
he went from strength to strength to become World Champion with eight race
wins in 1998.
1999 was more of a struggle, despite
Michael Schumacher being knocked out of contention at the British Grand
Prix after he broke his leg in a first lap accident, and the Finn battled
with Ferrari driver, Eddie Irvine, until the last race in Japan. However,
his lightening-quick start and renowned cool under pressure saw him win
the race and secure a second championship.
In 2000 he appeared to lose some
focus and lost early ground to both Michael Schumacher and his team mate,
Coulthard, through this and reliability problems. Hakkinen fought back,
and took the lead in the championship standings after an impressive overtaking
manouvre, which saw him pass Schumacher as they both lapped Ricardo Zonta
by passing him on either side, at Spa. However, the German won the next
four races in a row and the Finn's challenge was over.
The birth of his first child, Hugo,
before Christmas lead to rumours that his motivation may suffer in 2001
but Hakkinen has denied them all and says he is ready to fight for his
third championship win this season.
-More On
Mika Hakkinen The Best Driver On Earth:
Mika Hakkinen is the most successful
Finnish Formula 1 driver ever. He has been driving in F1 since 1991. Mika's
first team was Lotus and with his current team McLaren he has been working
already since 1993. Mika's skills as a racing driver are highly appraised
and it's been said that he is a combination of Ayrton Senna's skilfulness
and Alain Prost's accuracy and rationality. Mika is a very interesting
and also extraordinary F1 pilot among other drivers. He has been described
as phenomenal driver who is naturally gifted. These qualities make Mika
the fastest F1 driver today.
Mika Hakkinen has won two FIA Formula
One World Championships, in 1998 and 1999. He
drove both championships in McLaren
Mercedes Team. This all happened after his very serious racing accident
in 1995. It is probable that the success he has drawn from his major setbacks,
has made Mika a very popular athlete and also the most famous Finnish person
in the world.
-Mika Is
Telling Now The Most Important Things That Happened To Him The Previous
Years:
1991 I drove my first F1 Grand
Prix in Phoenix, Arizona.
1991 Lotus-Judd: 2pts, 15th in
the Drivers Championship
1992 Lotus-Ford: 11pts, 8th in
the Drivers Championship
1993 McLaren-Ford: 3 races, 3rd
in Japanese GP: first Formula 1 podium finish, 4pts, 15th in
Drivers Championship
1994 McLaren-Peugeot: Finished
2nd in Belgium, 3rd in San Marino, Britain, Italy, Portugal and
Europe (Jerez), 26pts, 4th in the
Drivers Championship
1995 McLaren-Mercedes: Finished
2nd in Italy and Japan, 7th in the Drivers Championship with
17pts, serious accident in Adelaine,
Australia
1996 McLaren-Mercedes: Finished
3rd in Britain, Belgium, Italy and Japan, 31 points, 5th in
Drivers Championship, 4 podium
finishes
1997 McLaren-Mercedes: Finished
1st in European GP, 3rd in Australia and Germany, 27 points,
6th in Driver's World Championship,
3 podium finishes.
1998-1999 McLaren-Mercedes: Finish....You
know ;-)
2000-2001 Etienne Torbey added:
I think that in 2000 Mika deserved to win the championship but he lost
it because of the many cheats of Ferrari and his bad luck.
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