Hakkinen: Will he or won't he?

[chipanggo]

A couple of weeks back, rumor circulated that Hakkinen was offered by Williams to drive for them next year. Now Coulthard has gotten into the speculating game regarding Mika's possible return. What do you guys think?

The article below came from F1Racing.net:



Coulthard: Hakkinen wants F1 comback

Mika Häkkinen wants to get 'back on track.' The comments of former McLaren team-mate David Coulthard are the clearest indicator yet that the 'Flying Finn' is targeting a return to Formula One. Previously, Coulthard said he had 'no doubt' Mika had quit forever.

Now, adding to Ron Dennis' similar comments, he tells the Evening Standard: "I think there's been a few things happening ... and he wants to [come back]. "Whether it's realistic or not who knows."

Coulthard is surprised only because Mika told him the reason for hanging up the blue helmet in late '01 was because he "didn't have the commitment [any more]. [And] because of his family."

But Formula One would welcome the lop-sided smiling Finn back. "Absolutely," David grinned. "I just hope he has got the 100 per cent commitment back. Otherwise it could all end in tears."


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[he7lius]

I think he would be a very very good option for Toyota, cos of his knowledge and ability.

[chipanggo]

i personally would like to see him back, hopefully in a competitive team like williams. although it would be nice to see him team up with ralf schumacher and see if their combined talent and experience could push toyota in a more competitive position.

[TopGearNL]

I think he would be a very very good option for Toyota, cos of his knowledge and ability.
Quit right there, it would be a good option, I just hope that he will do better than his Fellow countryman, Mika Salo :x

[he7lius]

I think he would be a very very good option for Toyota, cos of his knowledge and ability.
Quit right there, it would be a good option, I just hope that he will do better than his Fellow countryman, Mika Salo :x

I don't think that would that difficult.

[davide]

I would be good for the sports, thats for sure. An old champion coming back to whip Schumacher's ass... well, we can only hope :D

[fabro_s]

All rumors, but I think he needs F1 right now, common is his life, thats what he do for a living, it is his vice, its his gift from god! :mrgreen:

[sameerrao]

I think skill-wise he was exceptional and should be able to iron out the rusty edges over a couple of weeks of driving. So from that standpoint a return shouldn't be a problem. He just needs to work on fitness - that's it

The issue is more of a mental thing really- Does he have a will to compete and fight tooth and nail? Note that even he gets into a Williams, it is inferior to a Ferrari and with Michael still on top of his game - he will be very difficult to beat. Hakkinen was always awesome when he was leading on close to it. But some people have criticized him when he was running 6th or so that he didn't really put a solid effort ot get up front. Why is this relevant - he might be in a similar position when he signs up - dies he have what it takes to fight to the end and grab a podium?


Also he has been living in relative peace away from the media scrum - does he want to get into the fray of it again?

F1 has shown examples of drivers who left the sport and came back - some were successful (like Lauda, Prost (1 year gap though)) and others were not - Zanardi,etc.

He is aware that the moment he signs on he will be under a 1000W spotlight with every one eager to see if he "still has it". Mistakes will be pounced on by the hungry press.

[Toronto]

sorry chipanggo this a good post, but next time can you please post stuff like this in the News and Rumours Thread, just to keep this forum clean, thanx

[yg60m]

Finally, i don't believe in his or Villeneuve's come back but i hope to be wrong ...

[chipanggo]

sorry chipanggo this a good post, but next time can you please post stuff like this in the News and Rumours Thread, just to keep this forum clean, thanx

sorry toronto. i'll do that next time. :)

[mindgam3]

Looks like mika is looking more likely to make a come back in F1 and has restarted his training program. Links with williams have been made but he faces stiff competition if he wants in....

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=30703

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

I dont think that Mika Hakkinen is going to go back to the F1, once he told very clearly that when retiring from the F1 he was going to dedicate a lot of time to the family, to get a easy and relaxing period to live, and the experience says me that its very unprobable to get a non young driver a return to a F1 challenge after a resting year, except the case of Alain Prost, that he told that he was going to go to the Formula 1 straight away his retirement decision

[mindgam3]

Its a good way to get back into F1 though and get used to the speed and g's of an F1 car

[bmagni]

i hears hes going to toyota almost for sure... i want mika back, hes a great driver

[chipanggo]

for a while there i thought this mika thing has died down already and dismissed the whole as just a media hype. but to my surprise it's come back again. so i guess there probably is some truth that mika just might come back.

[mindgam3]

lol, sometimes celebrity sports stars can be way too greedy. Why ask for 30 million a season whenhe doesen't actually need that much and he hasn't proved himself after he left yet?

[chipanggo]

30 million per season? that's crazy. it's way too much.