Difference between revisions of "Mika Häkkinen"

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(1998-2001: McLaren)
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==Formula One==
 
==Formula One==
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===[[1991_Alternate_Formula_One_season|1991]]-199x: [[Lotus]]===
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Häkkinen made his Formula One debut in [[1991_Alternate_Formula_One_season|1991]] alongside former [[Tyrrell]] and [[AGS]] driver [[Martin Brundle]]. The Lotus 102B was a fairly unremarkable package at this point but Häkkinen managed a first points score with an impressive fifth place in the wet at the [[French Grand Prix]].
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===[[1998 Alternate Formula One season|1998]]-[[2001 Alternate Formula One season|2001]]: [[McLaren]]===
 
===[[1998 Alternate Formula One season|1998]]-[[2001 Alternate Formula One season|2001]]: [[McLaren]]===
 
By 1998, Häkkinen was the undisputed team leader at [[McLaren|West McLaren Mercedes]] - being joined by tempered Brit [[James James Davies|James Davies]]. Häkkinen's season got off to a great start, taking wins in the first two races of the season - as well as taking pole in the opening five rounds.  
 
By 1998, Häkkinen was the undisputed team leader at [[McLaren|West McLaren Mercedes]] - being joined by tempered Brit [[James James Davies|James Davies]]. Häkkinen's season got off to a great start, taking wins in the first two races of the season - as well as taking pole in the opening five rounds.  

Revision as of 13:17, 19 January 2020

Mika Pauli Häkkinen (born 28th September, 1968 in Vantaa, Finland) is a Finnish former Formula One driver who won the Drivers' Championship in 1998. Häkkinen is widely considered to be one of the greatest Formula One pilots of all time.

Mika Häkkinen, pictured in 1998

Formula One

1991-199x: Lotus

Häkkinen made his Formula One debut in 1991 alongside former Tyrrell and AGS driver Martin Brundle. The Lotus 102B was a fairly unremarkable package at this point but Häkkinen managed a first points score with an impressive fifth place in the wet at the French Grand Prix.

1998-2001: McLaren

By 1998, Häkkinen was the undisputed team leader at West McLaren Mercedes - being joined by tempered Brit James Davies. Häkkinen's season got off to a great start, taking wins in the first two races of the season - as well as taking pole in the opening five rounds.

Wins in Spain, France, Germany and Hungary set up Häkkinen as the dominant championship leader headed into the last four rounds, and as such he successfully clinched the title in Japan.

Häkkinen remained at McLaren for 1999, with Davies partnering him for the upcoming season. Häkkinen's title defence did not go exactly to plan and with the emergence of Jordan as a contender for wins, he was only able to win three times on his way to fourth in the championship.

The following year, Häkkinen was joined by another young Briton in Jack Christopherson. He and his young teammates were regular visitors to the winner's circle in 2000 and would even clinch the Constructor's crown for McLaren - but were unable to stop the dominance of Schumacher's Ferrari.

By 2001, Häkkinen had begun to slow in terms of pace and would only be able to muster sixth in the WDC. Late in the season, he announced that he would take a sabbatical in 2002 but not before he would win in the last race of the season in Japan.

Häkkinen did not return to the grid in 2003.