Comeback
Mika steps into his garage, whilst the mechanics look at him dubiously. Yet, as soon as he climbs into the cockpit and sets off, it happens. “Absolutely fantastic, absolutely amazing, wow, this is beautiful!”, he thinks to himself. Without hesitation, Mika puts his foot right down on the accelerator. Yet there is one thought he cannot shake. “What if something breaks? I will hit that wall! Do not think about that, trust the car and the team.” Häkkinen is instantly rapid. Though, the physical aspect proves crucial. It simply takes time to get back into top form. The comeback year is followed by 1997, with his first pole position and the Jerez race. Defining episodes ahead make him overtake incoming champion Jacques Villeneuve on the final lap and at long last, he wins his maiden GRAND PRIX!
All to play for
McLaren is performing, engine partner Mercedes is improving, and Mika is feeling positive. That is how 1998 begins. He goes on to win the first two races, as well as the intense MONACO GRAND PRIX, regarded as his favourite victory ever. Ferrari, however, is strong with Michael Schumacher, who remains hot on his heels; both triumph six times and, with two rounds left, they are level on points. At the Nürburgring, Schumacher starts from P1 and his teammate Eddie Irvine acts as buffer between the two rivals. But Häkkinen is lightning-fast, makes his pit stop later and rejoins in first. The German does not relent. Eventually, Mika manages to build up a six-second lead and heads to Japan with a four-point advantage. There, Schumacher takes pole, correct? On the grid, the Ferrari man stalls his car and has to start from last. Thus, Häkkinen immediatley takes the lead. Following a spectacular drive, Schumacher is already in third midway through the race, albeit half a minute behind the McLaren at front. A puncture on the Ferrari ultimately dashes any remaining hopes, and the Flying Finn crosses the finish line in first. Title number one!
Ups, downs, glory
1999 starts turbulently. After retiring in Melbourne, Mika, who was leading, crashes out at Imola. By the time of the Silverstone event, however, Häkkinen has fought his way back up the standings and is ahead of Schumacher. The latter breaks his leg on the opening lap of the BRITISH GRAND PRIX. Irvine now closes the gap, while Mika suffers three further retirements, such as at Monza where he was also ahead of the field. This time, both are level on points with three races to go. Once again at the Nürburgring, following a race that was chaotic to say the least, Häkkinen scores two points more than Irvine. Then, in Malaysia, Schumacher returns and helps the fellow Ferrari to victory. For the second year running, the title will be clinched in Japan. Mika delivers a flawless race, triumphs and recovers the six points he had lost. Mika Häkkinen is a two-time FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION!
