How F1’s other champion to emerge from 1991 thrived at Lotus
Mika Hakkinen became Michael Schumacher’s biggest rival in Formula 1 in the late-90s and early 2000s, having also made his F1 debut in 1991. But as MARK GALLAGHER recalls, while Schumacher wowed the world with a car that was eminently capable, Hakkinen was fighting to make his mark with a famous team in terminal decline
Some races stick in the memory. Phoenix, Arizona, and the 1991 United States Grand Prix is one of them. A hot, sweaty race sponsored by Iceberg, where 34 drivers and 18 teams turned up, the big boys aiming to win, others just hoping to give it a go.
Jordan made its debut, Andrea de Cesaris failing to pre-qualify, while team-mate Bertrand Gachot demonstrated the potential of the 191 by qualifying 14th.
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