Mika predicts tough challenge ahead

The McLaren driver is chasing a hat-trick of title wins but trails Ferrari's Michael Schumacher by 24 points.

The Finn has only managed one second place all season - at Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix - compared to Schumacher's clean-sweep of victories in the opening three races of the year.

Hakkinen looked on course for his first win of 2000 after controlling the 62-lap battle for the first 44 laps, but lost out following a Schumacher charge.

Speaking to The Express, Hakkinen said: "It is a hell of a gap to make up and the only way I am going to do it is by winning races and staying in front of Michael.

"I am happy to score points, but I should have won the race. After my first stop I hit something on the track and destroyed the floor of the car.

"Just before my second stop I was going flat out and the car just stopped. It was as though someone in the crowd had pushed a switch to turn off the engine.

"I thought the game was over, but the engine came alive again and continued. I lost a lot of time and that cost us the race, but in the end I was just lucky to finish."

Hakkinen will be bidding to score his first win of the season at next weekend's British Grand Prix.