Excellent new Mika Hakkinen Interview.

[charleselan]

I came across this really excellent interview with Mika Häkkinen this morning which is on the German "Auto Motor und Sport" website. It is recent and quite lengthy but very good indeed with Mika talking about many aspects of his career and life. All in English with German subtitles and conducted by the excellent Michael Schmidt who really does put many of the English speaking journalists to shame.

Mika even gives some detail about the famous overtake at Spa and the words he had with Michael Schumacher afterwards.

www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/mika-hakkinen-video-interview-2020/

[chrisb]

thanks JC, I will look at this later on -

I always liked Mika and thought him the quickest of his generation, although DC could be quick I always thought it was 'on his day' but Mika was just better in my view and although Michael had a real genius I thought what happened at Spa spoke volumes of them both 

[charleselan]

I agree Chris, in that Mika was the quickest of his generation, Michael included. In this interview Mika is very complimentary about Michael's driving ability and there is a great piece about the Macau F3 race and his thoughts about that race. Quite open about him having a fantastic car in the West Surrey Racing Ralt and Michael's Reynard not being so good, plus learning things by following Michael in the race. Like Keke he is so modest and honest about matters which for me is so refreshing, so many today could learn a great deal from that.

About the Spa "incident" he refers to Michael and "very naughty" but all the time he has that wicked look in his eyes which shows no malice. Basically he says that they are two different characters with two different outlooks, and that people just cannot change how they are.

It is an absolutely brilliant interview and by far the best I have seen involving Mika, he really is an interesting character and like Keke very open and honest.

[chrisb]

for a Finn Mika was also an emotional being and that makes him even more of a figure of respect

[robmarsh]

Good Man Mika. A worthy double champion indeed.