Hakkinen: Believe me, it's over
Former world champion Mika Hakkinen has moved to bring an end to continued wild rumours about the possibility of returning to Formula 1 by insisting that there is no chance of him ever making a grand prix comeback
Although the Finn held talks with Williams and BAR last season with a view to a drive in 2005, he has now admitted that his F1 career is definitely over and that his switch to the DTM will provide him with all the challenge he needs.
Speaking to Finnish tabloid newspaper Iltalehti, Hakkinen moved to make it clear that there was no chance of an F1 return.
"Of course its over!" he said about his F1 career. "Write that. I'm ready to sign that. I'm now 36 years old. I'm not young anymore. Age is inevitably becoming an issue.
"It is impossible to think that I would drive in F1 for example in the 2006 season, because all the time the day is drawing nearer when my reactions become slower, my vision weakens and so on. That's the law of nature."
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
Top 10 F1 drivers of the 1990s
How McLaren picked up each of its record 12 Brazil F1 wins
What history tells us about Verstappen’s F1 title race turnaround
Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts
Aston Martin "flat out" on Hungary updates but has concerns over spare parts being ready
Is this the luckiest F1 fan on the planet?
Smith becomes latest to top Autosport National Rankings
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments