Motorsports
Hakkinen: ‘I miss Schumacher’
Mika HakkinenTwo-time F1 World Champion (1998 and 1999, aged 54, last weekend, Race of Champions 2023, reviving the racing bug and getting behind the wheel on the ice in Sweden. Like a kid in new shoes, he had fun. And after getting out of the car, he met the MD. He answered my questions, had the same speed as F1 and said goodbye for being late. He had to go eat with his people. The MD sneaked into the VIP area of the truck and approached again after finishing their meal. The claim paid off. The Finn has talked about his F1 season for 2023, Red Bull, Carlos Sainz, Leclerc’s current dominance, Fernando his Alonso and his great rival Michael Schumacher on the circuit.
What does attending the 2023 Race of Champions on the ice in Sweden mean to you?
i love it I love being here with great talent and it’s great to be here with the past and history of this sport and pilots of different nationalities. Glad to see them, have a good time inside and outside the race, have dinner together and have fun. That’s the most important part. They are always competing and having an event like the Race of Champions is a great way to have fun together.
And now with electric cars.
That is the present, the life we have now. Everyone is looking for solutions to reduce the environment and their carbon footprint. We want to find the right solutions to do the right thing. Sometimes it needs a radical change, sometimes it’s wrong, sometimes it’s right. But we have to move forward.
Please tell us about F1. Do you think any team can beat Verstappen and Red Bull in 2023?
It is intriguing that the current regulations allow a team that failed last year to improve on this year’s car. When I was in F1, working with aerodynamics experts like Adrian Newey (both at McLaren, Newey was technical director in 1998 and 1999, Hakkinen I won the title), I understood the importance of different details… the aerodynamics of the car. And now the current regulations are giving teams that had a lower success rate in the previous year compared to winners such as Red Bull more time to develop their machines in the wind tunnel. It’s interesting to see. It will be interesting to see how this time difference actually affects different teams and their success.
Who is Mika Hakkinen on the grid for the current drivers?
Phew! I have never talked about this because it is very difficult to say or think which drivers have the same personality as me. I was very lucky. I had a great moment in my career, a lot of testing, a great teammate in Formula 1, a great champion and many others who have allowed me to achieve what I have achieved in his Formula 1. I have had the opportunity to have good people. it’s difficult. Speaking of driving style, we talk about aggressive drivers, but the nationalities and personalities of drivers are different. Therefore, it is impossible for him to compare drivers 100%.
What are your thoughts on Carlos Sainz and his 2023 season with Ferrari?
Ferrari are in a very positive situation with two great drivers like them (Sainz and Leclerc). In my career, I always thought no one was faster than me. It’s very easy. You might think it’s an arrogant way of thinking or overconfident, but it’s normal for a driver and when you have two very fast drivers in your team, he can be a problem. But personally, when I ran, I was always focused on my work and teamwork. And over time, your partner will get tired. It’s a constant struggle, so it’s mentally exhausting. And when I say ‘fight’, I mean you absolutely have to put your feet on the board every time you hit the track. Or… I never raced them. I have always been with Lotus or McLaren. I know what happens in that environment. Of course, it will be interesting for Sainz to see how the two drivers work together, how the teams work together and what kind of performance they get out of it. It will be interesting to see what happens if they start winning and show that Ferrari is one step ahead of the rest (in terms of performance)…very interesting. ! I have never raced for Ferrari and don’t know it. But Ferrari is one of the most competitive teams he is. When I was at McLaren, I’ve already seen situations where his two roosters in the same pen would move sooner or later. Maybe we will see it in the future.
“Sainz and Leclerc? Marathon. Whoever finishes first wins. I don’t think the marathon has started yet.”
Do you think Sainz and Leclerc are on the same level and Carlos a potential champion?
When you have two great drivers in the same team, it’s very rare that the two top drivers have the same riding style. There are usually some technical differences in driving and how the cars are set up differently, so it’s important to understand. In those situations, understanding your partner can give you a huge advantage in your personal performance as a driver. It’s hard to say who is better, Sainz or Leclerc. This isn’t just his one race or his one season, it’s a marathon, so it’s not fair to speak my mind. The first to reach the end of the marathon is the winner. In that sense, I don’t think this marathon has started yet…
How does it feel to see Fernando Alonso riding at the highest level at 41?
It’s great, really big. It’s great to see Fernando able to keep pushing at this level and it’s really great to see him perform at this level.
“It’s great to see Alonso pushing himself to the max at 41. He’s a great competitor and a real winner.”
Did you think you would reach this level if you returned to F1? No other great pilot had such a performance when they returned.
Each one has a different character. F1 has developed in the right direction over the years and the quality of life is constantly improving. There is more science and knowledge, and recognizing and leveraging this can advance your career.
What do you like most about Alonso?
(Laughs) First of all, he has a good personality and is a nice guy. And he’s definitely a great fighter! He always goes to the table on his feet. It’s a winner, a real winner! And I think he has a great personality. I’ve seen him find solutions throughout his career by changing teams.A very special character and that’s what he has.
At the Race of Champions, the pilots hoisted a banner with the motto “Keep Fighting” in memory of Michael Schumacher. You were one of his great rivals. do you miss it?
Yes, it’s definitely good to see Mick Schumacher (his son) here and his wife (Corinna) here. Of course we have made a great history in racing over the years and we will miss him, but life is different when you have family. For this reason, I look at the picture from a general perspective and what is missing is what the family (Schumacher) is going through the most difficult part of.
“Michael and I share a great racing history and it’s important to keep fighting.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo
I am a writer at Sportish, where I mainly cover sports news. I’ve also written for The Guardian and ESPN Brasil, and my work has been featured on NBC Sports, SI.com and more. Before working in journalism, I was an athlete: I played football for Colgate University and competed in the US Open Cross Country Championships.