Hakkinen 'Learned a Lot' from Senna

McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen has praised the late triple World Champion Ayrton Senna, saying that racing alongside him was an invaluable experience that helped him becoming World Champion himself.

Hakkinen was McLaren's test driver back in 1993, but he took the racing seat when American Michael Andretti was dumped by the team with three races to go, becoming Senna's teammate for the rest of the season.

1998 and 1999 World Champion Hakkinen confessed that watching Senna, considered one of the best drivers of all time, was a great help in his career.

"I learned a lot from Ayrton," Hakkinen said in an interview with the F1 Racing magazine.

"I used to watch Ayrton so closely. I would try to understand what he was doing. I would try to look at him all the time. Ayrton's dedication to racing was incredible, and that was the thing that gave him the ability to do what he did."

Hakkinen also admitted that Senna, who died at the Imola circuit in 1994 after his Williams crashed against the wall at the Tamburello corner, was not an easy person to handle, though he was very professional.

"He wasn't a very easy person to work with. I raced with him three times in '93 â€" from Estoril onwards â€" and it was very difficult, extremely difficult."

"He was a real professional. So working with him, or watching him, gave me a great understanding of racing, of F1 â€" and of working with the McLaren team."

One of the best moments of his career, Hakkinen recalled, was outqualifying Senna in his first race for McLaren, at the 1993 Portuguese Grand Prix.

"It was extremely close, but I beat him. It was a great feeling. I wasn't shouting about it â€" I was just there doing my job. To drive as fast as possible was my job. He and I had a discussion afterwards. He wasn't very happy. He was upset."

Hakkinen was the last driver to outqualify Senna, who lost his life only five races later.