Hakkinen has been a long-serving McLaren member, driving for the team for eight seasons. In that time he has tasted victory, bitter defeat and the pain of a near fatal crash in Adelaide in 1995. His courageous comeback to front running form just four months after a trackside tracheotomy only just saved his life is as much a part of the Hakkinen legend as his two titles.

As are his endless duels with Michael Schumacher. If it weren't for the Flying Finn, Michael Schumacher might have enjoyed a much more dominant decade. As it was, though, the two scrapped throughout their career, encountering each other at every level of the racing ladder before their battles headed to the sport's highest echelon. The Finn did not get all of the credit he deserved, as many felt Schumacher was in the inferior car and that, had he been in a McLaren, the 1998 and 1999 crowns would have come his way as well. Hindsight has given fresh respect for Hakkinen, though, who joined a team in the doldrums and helped turn it into a force to be reckoned with once more.

This year the Finn's heart rarely seemed in the racing, though, and the flat-out charging style, with rarely matched precision in qualifying trim, was infrequently glimpsed. A big crash in the season-opener in Australia, when the suspension of his MP4-16 gave way at high speed, sucked the wind out of his sails. He approached team boss Ron Dennis in Monaco with his idea for a sabbatical year and, Silverstone and Indianapolis apart, seemed to be on cruise control from that point on...

In 2002 the 33-year-old will step aside for young countryman Kimi Raikkonen, who has some mighty big shoes to fill. Hakkinen is confident he can do it, though, and looks forward to helping the 22-year-old through the trials and tribulations of his first year with the team.

After his final Grand Prix for at least a year in Suzuka, when he surrendered third place to team-mate David Coulthard, he gave what could be his final interview as a Formula One driver. Here is what the Finn had to say...

Q Were you able to enjoy your last race Mika?

Guaranteed yes, and it was fantastic to let David past also. I enjoyed it, it was a good fight with Michael as he tried to overtake me and was not able to...It did not make any difference to be honest for the result, maybe some for my result.

Q Good gentlemanly gesture to let David past, was that in return for what he did for you so long ago in Australia?

Yeah a little bit, only half probably.

Q Why did you feel the need to let him past?

I was happy to you know? In the past he has let me through and it was good to give him a chance to experience it too. We got third place as well, so that was good.

Q What problems did you have Mika?

I didn't really have any problems...

Q You were quite slow for a short while towards the end?

There was no reason to push and I didn't want to go into the high-speed corners in seventh flat out!

Q Is this a sad day?

It's not a sad day, it's a very happy day - I'm happy it's over!

 Q What can you suggest to Kimi Raikkonen?

Well I tell you what he had a bad day, he had a big shunt. I'm happy he's OK, he'll definitely have a stiff neck and it's very sad to finish the season like that to be honest. But he's going to have a good time with McLaren, it's definitely the team that can give him 100% support.

Q How can you help him?

I'm sure I can give him psychological support. I think he has to learn to know his own way in the team and to get the right people to support him. But he's going to be alright...

Q What's been the best moment in your career so far?

I mean there have been great moments. My racing career has provided many victories, a couple of World Championships. Winning at Silverstone was very special for me, winning at Indianapolis was even more special. Everything, there have been so many special moments in my career with the team, we have had very interesting times. What I remember most about F1 with McLaren have been the smiles on people's faces after qualifying and after the victories. Especially after Monaco in 98. The faces of the engineers, the wives of team managers, my wife. To feel part of McLaren and to feel part of Formula 1 and winning pole positions and Grands Prix have been the special moments. To give pleasure to the people and to be part of success.

Q Michael Schumacher has been your major rival, what are your thoughts about him and do you have anything to say to him?

Definitely it has always been very clean racing with him, that always has been my style. I have always tried to race clean and Michael has definitely been that way too. But Michael is definitely one of those that if someone plays bad games with him he will answer to that. It has been a great battle.

Q What was going through your head on your final slow down lap?

Very happy it was over...This is happy moment for me, I cannot find anything sad. People don't disappear in Formula One anyway, you guys are going to be here, the mechanics and engineers are going to be here. I'm not going to disappear from this planet. I'm happy to have been able to come to this decision in my life and go away. I'm happy to finish the season in one piece, physically and mentally, and go home with my family.

 Q That sounds like an official retirement...

You know, at the moment as you can imagine I am going away because I need time off and after five-six months you never know what I am going to feel. Time will show everything, but I'm not going away.

Q Do you have any plans for your year off?

I don't have particular plans yet, I'm just going to take some time off and rest, stay in one place for longer than one week and wake up one day and decide what do I want to do., Do I want to do this or that, do I want to do something to do with Formula One or do I want to do something in business. I want to experience the feeling properly, so I'm not rushing into it.

Q Do you think David should be the first driver at McLaren now?

Well like Ron said in the press conference on Friday there will not be any decisions on a number one drivers. Kimi and David have equal status.

Q Do you think Kimi can push David straight away?

I'm sure he can push David straight away. David is a fast driver, I don't think he has a problem. Kimi is a young driver and he has a lot to learn, but for sure he is a very fast driver. It's very difficult and David is very professional and very tough, so it won't be easy to work on his level. It's going to take time for Kimi to get the maximum job done but I don't have a doubt at all, it just takes time. Is it going to happen at the first race, the second race or the last race of the season? I don't know, but he's going to be there sooner or later.

Q Do you have anything to say to all the people at the factory in Woking that have put the cars together for you over the years?

I don't know exactly what I would say to be honest. If you look at the length of time we've been working together and what kind of car McLaren has been able to provide every year - it has been incredible. The biggest change probably came in 1995-1996, there was a big push from the team when it was fed up with losing. Everyone wanted to win and Mercedes came on board, new sponsors came on board. The package was good and it was a question of time as to when everything came right. In 1998 definitely we got the machine it was unbelievable and everyone worked hard to make the car better, even this year. It's going to continue they're going to make good cars in the future too. I am sure of that.
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