Mika Hakkinen, a two-time Formula 1 champion and former McLaren driver, has expressed his enthusiasm about the team’s current performance. He believes McLaren is in a strong position to secure its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998. “What McLaren is doing at the moment, I think, is perfect,” said Hakkinen, who is currently a McLaren brand ambassador.
He has been particularly impressed with the team’s progress over the past few years, noting, “Being a McLaren brand ambassador, first of all, I’m very happy to see how the team has been developing over the years, not just this year but the last 5-6 years.”
Hakkinen also weighed in on the brewing championship fight between McLaren’s Lando Norris and defending champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull). He acknowledges that Norris still has a mathematical chance to win the World Championship, praising McLaren for providing him the opportunity to achieve that goal. “Mathematically, he (Lando) still has a chance to win the World Championship. So, it’s great that the team is giving him a chance to achieve that goal,” said Hakkinen. “They (McLaren) are leading the construction championship, but there is still a chance for the driver’s championship.”
While acknowledging Norris’ potential, Hakkinen emphasizes the crucial role of teamwork and the support of his teammate, Oscar Piastri, in his championship pursuit. Drawing from his own experiences as a racing driver, he understands the importance of teammate support. “Being a racing driver myself, and also being in a position where I needed support from my teammate, I didn’t get that until the very last minute.”
He acknowledges the potential challenges of managing the expectations and fan bases of both Norris and Piastri but remains confident in McLaren’s ability to achieve both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles. “There are fans of Lando and fans of Piastri, and all this may be challenging to understand,” he said, adding that McLaren now has a chance to clinch both titles.
Looking at the broader picture of Formula 1, Hakkinen is excited about the emergence of new drivers and the competitive landscape they bring. “There have been new drivers coming in and they have shown their potential,” he said, highlighting the importance of giving young drivers the chance to prove themselves. He acknowledges the hard work and investments made by the drivers and teams. “I am very happy about that because young drivers need to get the chance to prove themselves. They have been working hard and investing a lot of money.”
With seven different winners in the current season, Hakkinen is optimistic about the future of Formula 1. “Formula One has had many (seven so far) different winners (this season). I think that’s very exciting, particularly for the fans.”
The two-time F1 champion was in the city to inaugurate the Madras International Karting Arena (MIKA) at the Madras International Circuit on Thursday. Hakkinen’s own F1 journey spanned a decade (1991-2001), marked by his intense rivalry with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. It was during this period that he secured both his world titles (1998, 1999). His career also saw him partner with legends like Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansel, both at McLaren.
