Mika Hakkinen to return to F1

I remember, but what he did before more then made up for it.

 

He was superb in 98 as I said before. But at the end of his career he made the right decision. And any talk about coming back is just nostalgic nonsense. As it is with any driver (exception Lauda).

 

Agree ... but not sure about Kimi being WC in 2007 (referring to your signiture).

Used to think that was a given, but his fire has been dampened ... IMO.
Pete

 

Not much, just lapped ... made Barrichello look motivated

Pete

 

Can you remember Damon Hill's last season then?

He used to park his Jordan half way through a GP, having run at the tail end.
Eddie Jordan tried to sack him, only for Hill's lawyers to turn up at GPs to enforce the contract!!

 

Apparently Frentzen's lawyers weren't that good. Got sacked by fax before the GERMAN GP. Outch.

I hate to say this, but my hero Eddie Irvine wasn't much to look at in his last season either. I still think Lauda did the right thing when he quit the first time around: The moment you realize the motivation is gone, you gotta stop.

 

Irvine never gave me the impression that he was really focussed on his F1 career.
He came to it by accident: Eddie Jordan spotted him during Formula Japan races, and had to drag him away from all the geishas, for him to sign a contract.
Irvine was not really bothered to race F1, he was making a good living in Japan, and confessed that he knew from the start that he wouldn't make a WDC anyway.
His move to the Scuderia came because they were looking for a compliant, but still quick #2 driver. He fitted the description.
Irvine was a bit like James Hunt, but didn't manage to take advantage of the only chance he had to be WDC, at the time MS was sidelined by an accident.
Becoming #1 at Jaguar, Irvine was out of his depth: he couldn't develop a car, and soon lost interest, the driving suffered.

"Too many women, too little time", that's Irvine.

 

McLarens has officially denied that Mika H is driving for them in 2007.

 

Absolutely, to be competitive you have to be in it 110% ...

Pete

 

He did win in Adelade in 04 when he and DC shared the Williams after Senna's death. Frank Williams then signed DC instead of Mansell and it was Bernie that brokered the deal with Ron Dennis and Mansell, whom Dennis didn't like as a driver. It was a disaster because, one that year's McLaren was garbage, (anyone else remember the engine cover wing? Yuck), two Mansell was already comprimised in that team mainly because they never wanted him in the first place. There was no way he was gonna do well. I doubt he lost any driving skill in that short amount of time, there were many things against him that year. Had he went to Williams i'm sure it would have been different.

 

Excellent post. That is 100% correct, had Mansell been in that Williams in 95 he would have been a much tougher character than Damon Hill or DC.

 

Not to sidetrack this thread, but the fact that you compare him to James Hunt not only fits the glove, but also is one of the main reasons why I adore this guy. I don't want a robot in the cockpit but rather a cool dude.

Regarding his chances for the title: I have said it many times before and say it again: Four wheels (instead of 3) at the Nuerburgring pitstop would have given him the points to clinch the title. Or on a more general level: Support from the team and particularly from Jean Todt. It was Luca who brought the team around after Todt threw in the towel post Silverstone.

 

The comparison to James Hunt IMO is a bit rich, James was actually really fncken fast ... Irvine never reached that potential. James Hunt once did a race of champions (in the States I think) and in a car he had never driven, on a track he had never driven against seasoned pros ... put the thing on pole!

James also beat Lauda in even-ish cars ... and Lauda was no slouch.

It would have been sacreligeous if Irvine had bagged that WC ... and I like Irvine for being himself and all. His Green Races Red book is a good read too.

Pete

 

No Doubt Mika was class act.

But take away Mr. this is my season Scotsman in the way in the rain, and sibling brother Ralf getting in the way then he would not have too much to shout about. And Michael would not have had to try to tickle him off the track.

All if's and but's of course, and if my Aunti had balls she would be my Uncle.

Mika was great and deserves what he has, but he's been away to long.

Sadly the present young finnish upstart will not do as well, he is not in the same class. He maybe lucky enough to get Michael to teach him how to win the next WC ship but not on his own.

I have my nomex on for the heat

 

The more I think about it the less I feel that way. Was it any more fair that Mika bagged it? It really was MS for the taking, but he wasn't there. Tough luck or even his own fault (did we ever figure out whether it was driver or mechanic error?).

If Irvine had bagged it would it have been any different than Rosberg becoming champ in 82? I don't think so.

 

Learning as reading, you guys seem to have alot more knowledge about F1 than me. So I'm just gona stick to reporting what the Finnish magazines are reporting about Mika Häkkinen and Mclaren.

Todays magazine (Iltasanomat) have an article that confirmes that Mclaren have confirmed negotiating with MH, but they wont tell what his roll will be at Mclaren.

The article further states that Johnnie Walker (Mclaren sponsor) has named MH as their new "Responsible Drinking Ambassador", since KR is no longer working for Mclaren. However Alicia Tetlow from the Diageo (Johnnie Walker company) is fast to state that it has nothing to do with rumors regarding MH driving, as that is a matter between Mclaren and MH.

Maybe not so much news, but more speculations, but boy are speculations fun

Magazine article (in Finnish): http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1274596
The Press release: http://www.diageo.com/en-row/NewsAndMedia/PressReleases/2006/PressRelease22NovF1.htm

 

Was Kimi their irresponsible drinking ambassador?

 

IMo it was MS's fault ... one of the less than 10 complete brain fade moves. Really bad start and then an impossible passing attempt ... never was going to pull that off.

In the end the driver that does all the work should reap the reward ... I cannot remember the details about Rosbergs 82 win other than he only won 1 race, but if he worked his butt off to put himself in that position then he 100% deserved the win.

Irvine instead, like Barichello, drove well but benefited 100% from a number 1 driver racing the team and car quality/standard, and thus ANY number 2 driver on that team would have been in the same position.

BUT on the other hand both those drivers had to commit suicide on their racign career to be in that team, next to that driver ... that counts for something.

I also do not know how much work behind the scenes Irvine put in to developing that car.

Pete

 

So Lewis Hamilton is confirmed to be Mclarens 2nd driver next year, time for me to stop dreaming...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129970

Nah, I like dreaming. So if Mika isn't driving next year, maybe he could get the same (what ever that is) post as Schumi will have at Ferrari. I can see (dream) a MH vs. MS duell once more.

 

Irvine was hired at the same time as MS was, so they developed the car together. They both did countless test drives and therefore IMHO Irvine was the next logic choice to win the title if #1 is out.

Rosberg OTOH was actually not the next logic choice (Pironi was), but the 3rd driver in the championship to take over. So calling Rosberg a worthy champion and Irvine undeserving doesn't make much sense in my book.