Hakkinen Wants to Taste Life Outside F1

Two times champion Mika Hakkinen suggested that he might come back stronger after his decision to take a year away from Formula One.

But the Finn also raised the possibility that it might turn into a longer separation once he had tasted a quieter life away from the hectic whirl of international Grands Prix.

McLaren announced at the Italian Grand Prix on Friday morning that Hakkinen was taking a break to "recharge his batteries" and would be replaced by compatriot Kimi Raikkonen. Hakkinen said he did not have anything else lined up but just wanted to spend time with his wife Erja and their baby son Hugo, born last December.

"I simply just want to enjoy a break," he said. "If you look at the other drivers in Formula One history who have had a break they have come back stronger," added the 32-year-old, who will be 34 before he can contemplate a comeback.

"Alain (Prost) is a good example. Also, Niki Lauda who had a break for other reasons just like myself - everybody came back stronger."

Prost took an enforced break in 1992 after being sacked by Ferrari at the end of 1991. He returned to win his fourth title in 1993 with Williams. Lauda, now the team boss at Jaguar, quit Formula One at the end of 1979, saying he was tired of driving around in circles. He returned in 1982 with McLaren and won a third title in 1984.

Irvine Sceptical

However, Jaguar's Eddie Irvine, whose place was linked to Hakkinen recently, was quick to pour cold water on that suggestion.

"People tend to remember your last race," he said. "Alain Prost took a break and came back but he was more highly rated in my opinion than Mika is. And you've got to think, will he even get the chance to come back?."

Hakkinen said it was good to just take time off and recharge the batteries.

"You never know what might happen," he said. "I might like to be on a break and would like to have a longer break than a year. That is something we have to wait and see."

Hakkinen said he had started discussing the matter with team boss Ron Dennis at the Monaco Grand Prix in May when he knew the way he felt would have meant him performing below 100 percent next year.

"It was a long and complicated process and it was very hard for all of us involved to understand why I was feeling the way I was," he said. "I have been with the team for so many years that it's not just a team to me.

"We have gone through so many things together but the moment when I had the feeling that I needed a break I also knew that I had to discuss it."

Arrival Welcomed

The Finn welcomed the arrival of Raikkonen, a friend he is likely to help settle in and whose progress he could well end up overseeing. And he said he did not know what the immediate future held, beyond being an opportunity to stop travelling around the world.

"It takes a lot of time away from the family. Also Formula One is so hectic in itself that you just get tired," he added. "You are always looking at the calendar before making a decision about anything and I just want to try not looking at the calendar for some time.

"I'm going to take it easy, spend time with my family and slowly start to think and organise the future, to find the right thing for me to do. I want to find out if there is something else in my life apart from Formula One. You never know, I might enjoy something else but at the moment I still love to drive racing cars.

"Racing cars is my passion so maybe after four-five months I will realise that I miss it too much."