Mika Hakkinen is one of the greatest drivers to ever grace the Formula 1 racing circuit. The Finnish driver started his career in F1 in 1991 and raced for a total of 10 seasons. He won two world championships and 20 Grand Prix. He started driving for McLaren in 1993 and raced for them until 2001. During his time at McLaren, he won the 1998 and 1999 world championships and established himself as one of the greats of F1. Here we take a look back at his time with the McLaren team and how his success shaped the team’s history.
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The Early Years of Mika Hakkinen and McLaren
Hakkinen first joined the McLaren team in 1993, replacing Nigel Mansell. He had previously competed in F1 for Lotus and had shown great potential. The team had high hopes for the Finn and he didn’t disappoint. His first season with McLaren was not the most successful, but he was able to show his potential and scored points in six out of the sixteen races that season.
In the following year, Hakkinen and McLaren had a much stronger season. He secured two podium finishes and two pole positions. His success continued in 1995, as he secured two more podium finishes and two pole positions. He finished the season in fourth place in the championship standings, the highest result of his career at the time.
The World Championship Years
Hakkinen and McLaren went from strength to strength in the following years and his partnership with the team proved to be successful. He became more consistent and was able to challenge for podium finishes in every race. He secured his first win in 1997 at the European Grand Prix and finished the season in third place in the championship standings.
In 1998, Hakkinen and McLaren finally made history. The Finn won his first world championship title and became the first Finnish driver to do so. The team also won the constructors’ championship, the first time they had achieved this since the late 1980s. Hakkinen followed up this success with another world championship in 1999, sealing a remarkable period of success for both him and the team.
The Final Years with McLaren
Hakkinen remained with McLaren until 2001, when he retired from F1 racing. He had mixed results in his final two seasons with the team, with some strong results but also some disappointing ones. He retired from racing with an impressive record of 20 Grand Prix wins and 2 world championship titles.
The Legacy of Mika Hakkinen and McLaren
The legacy of Mika Hakkinen and McLaren is one of great success. The Finn was able to take the team to the top of the F1 standings and win two world championship titles. This success helped to cement McLaren’s place in the history of F1 and will always be remembered as one of the team’s greatest achievements.
