Mika Hakkinen has revealed an aspect of his intense Formula 1 title battles with Michael Schumacher that angered him while paying tribute to his biggest rival.
F1 fans were treated to a spectacular rivalry between Hakkinen and Schumacher in the late 1990s, with Schumacher naming Hakkinen as his most feared competitor.
The duo went head-to-head for the title twice, in 1998 and 2000, the Finn emerging victorious in the former, while the German took his maiden title for Ferrari at the turn of the millennium.
But the duo always raced with respect throughout their career, channelling their disappointments, racing hard but fair, as the duo never collided on-track.
Their 1998 title showcased the two at their best, with tight battles throughout the year, including the Italian Grand Prix, where both pushed each other to the limit.
Mika Hakkinen praises rarely seen side of Schumacher
But despite Schumacher losing the title in 1998, Hakkinen revealed the German visited him in his motorhome to offer him private congratulations on his maiden championship.
“Yeah. Absolutely,” he confirmed on the High Performance podcast.
“It was a great fight in ’98. Michael knew that the car at the start of the year wasn’t there, but he saw that way taking it closer and closer, so he knew there’s going to be next year.
“So absolutely, after the Grand Prix in Suzuka.
“There used to be a huge complex, the hotel in Suzuka. Then inside of this complex, there were little what they call log houses. And inside those log houses were karaoke rooms.
“So of course, all the drivers and mechanics go in to to sing karaoke and have beers and have fun.
“So, I knew Michael already from childhood, since we were 13 years old, from the karting. When he has a chance to win, he won’t give up.
“When he realises that victory is gone, and he’s been won fair and square, he’s very straightforward, and he’s happy and congratulates you and happy about it.
“”But, in a way that the game is not over yet.”
Schumacher and Ferrari’s unique advantage
Such was the respect between the two, Mika Hakkinen confirmed his mind quickly turned to the following season, as he knew his rival would attack harder to secure motorsport’s top prize.
There was one aspect of Ferrari that angered the two-time world champion: Ferrari’s unique ability to test whenever it wanted.
“He’s such a fighter”, Hakkinen revealed.
“I knew that when we came out of that last grand prix and the log cabin, I knew that he’s not going home and start relaxing for a couple of months, and then goes to the first grand prix,”
“No. He goes back in a factory. He goes to Fiorano, because Ferrari had a test track, and they can drive there whatever they want, and I knew that was a huge advantage for them, because we didn’t have a test track where we can drive whenever we want.
“So, they were testing all the time, developing everything. And it really pissed me off.
“We were able to go to Silverstone, start at 10 o’clock, and 12 o’clock, suddenly, lunch time. One o’clock, we continue, and five o’clock, it’s closed. And it’s raining! They’re testing in sunny Fiorano, from morning, eight o’clock, they can start. They can stop at eight o’clock in the evening, continued testing.
“And if Michael gets tired, or teammate gets tired, they put a test driver in a car, continue the program, the gearboxes, the softwares, everything. So they were constantly able to do that.
“I don’t think, is it fair or not. It was just what it was.
“So, I knew that Michael lost, and they knew they weren’t good enough, but they knew that way, what they were doing in their program, they will get there.”
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