Mika Häkkinen

From his very first Formula One drive in an uncompetitive Lotus in Phoenix in March 1991, it was clear that Hakkinen possessed the talent to reach the top. At the end of 1992, he was signed as test driver for the 1993 season by McLaren, supporting Ayrton Senna and Michael Andretti. Mika spent 1994 and 1995 developing his skills, taking over as team leader. His life was threatened by a serious accident at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix but the quick actions of medical crews led to a full recovery.

Mika won his first Grand Prix in 1997 and never looked back, collecting his first World Championship in style in 1998. He won 8 of the 16 races. Although 1999 was a tougher year, he came back strongly, scoring a further 5 Grands Prix victories en route to retaining his crown at the final race of the season.

By then he was well established as the only man capable of out-racing Michael Schumacher. Mika’s confidence in racing Schumacher wheel-to-wheel was most famously illustrated by a 300kph overtaking manoeuvre during the Belgian Grand Prix in 2000. Today it is regarded as one of the greatest overtaking manoeuvres in F1 history.

Further victories in the British and United States Grands Prix in 2001 demonstrated that Mika’s performances remained at their peak, however he retired from Formula 1 racing at the end of that year.

Mika subsequently competed in the German Touring Car Championship until 2007. Since then he has remained closely involved in Formula 1 through brand ambassadorships and business interests including driver management. In 2022 he has joined the Viaplay F1 broadcast team in the nordic region, providing expert insight.