Archive for November, 1999
Hakkinen: A Fightback From Near-Death To F1 Double
SUZUKA (Japan) Oct 31 - Mika Hakkinen’s second Formula One title is the latest triumph in a career which has seen him climb from a near-fatal crash four years ago to the top of his sport.
His late-blooming saga is dotted with tearful outbursts which bely the strength of character which, combined with his natural talent and speed, has helped McLaren back to winning ways.
The 31-year-old Finn was photographed sobbing at trackside in the Italian Grand Prix last September after a gear-changing blunder resulted in him spinning off.
”This was one of those days that is a racing drivers’ nightmare,” Hakkinen said at the time, clearly fearing that the mistake could have cost him the title.
It was not the first time the fiercely competitive Finn had shed tears in public.
In 1990, he had a memorable clash with Michael Schumacher at the Macau Grand Prix, a Formula Three event seen as one of the best springboards for young racers aspiring to the glamour of Formula One.
The Finn tried to overtake Schumacher from inside on the final lap. But the German steered inside and Hakkinen was knocked out of contention.
As Schumacher rejoiced in victory Hakkinen was seen crying uncontrollably.
Hakkinen came from a new generation of Finnish racing drivers who have followed in the footsteps of Keke Rosberg, the 1982 world champion who now manages both the new world champion and J.J. Lehto. The other Finn on the circuit is Mika Salo, Ferrari’s number three.
Hakkinen started kart racing at the age of ten — winning four Finnish titles before moving to formula three cars. Hakkinen moved up to Grand Prix racing with Lotus in 1991 and finished six times in the top six in 1992.
He earned 13 points for Lotus over two years before joining McLaren in 1993, initially as a test driver in a stable then dominated by the late Ayrton Senna.
Hakkinen replaced Michael Andretti for the final three races of the 1993 season, outqualifying Senna in their first race as teammmates and claiming his first podium place in Japan, where he finished third.
In November 1995, Hakkinen narrowly survived a 270 kilometers (170 miles)-per-hour crash in qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix which left him with a fractured skull and stopped him breathing.
Doctors performed a tracheotomy at the scene and he made a miraculous recovery, returning to Europe only three weeks later. He finished in the points in his comeback race.
Hakkinen’s long-awaited first victory came in the controversial final race in 1997 at Jerez where Schumacher, the 1994 and 1995 world champion, collided with Jacques Villeneuve.
For Hakkinen’s second win - in Melbourne at the start of the 1998 season - Coulthard had to hand the race to him again under a team order after their cars ran away from the field.
But Hakkinen’s nine pole positions and seven further wins last year proved his talent.
Schumacher fought back hard to take the 1998 title showdown to a finale at Suzuka. The German stalled on his start from pole position and a tyre burst later cost him a third title.
It brought McLaren, now powered by Mercedes engines, their first constructor’s title since Senna clinched his third crown in a Honda-powered car seven years earlier.
Despite the awesome speed of the McLaren MP4/14, which has landed Hakkinen in 11 pole positions this season, his title defence has been dogged by mechanical problems and accidents.
But when the pressure was on in Suzuka, Hakkinen showed his class, beating Schumacher into second spot in a nerveless display. -
There were certainly no tears on his face on Sunday. - AFP
Utusan Malaysia