Irvine doubts Hakkinen will return

Speaking to Autosport's sister publication Motorsport News, Irvine said: "Maybe the break's a good idea if it works, but I don't know if he will have the chance to come back. People tend to remember your last season. So if he had won the championship and then wanted a year off then maybe, but after his season I am not so sure."

In the past, Niki Lauda and Alain Prost both left F1 and came back to win world championships again. But Irvine pointed out that Hakkinen's circumstances are different. "Prost left when he was very, very competitive, destroying his team-mate, and probably a more highly motivated driver than Mika is now. So it is not going to be that easy for Mika to come back."

Hakkinen will be replaced by Kimi Raikkonen at McLaren next year, but still has a long-term contract with the team to return in 2003. But team boss Ron Dennis has admitted that Hakkinen may not return. "Mika might find life on a beach very attractive," he said.