Rosberg Confident Hakkinen Will Return

Keke Rosberg, manager of departing McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen, fully expects his man to return to the track for the 2003 season after taking a much needed rest from the Formula One world.

Many observers claim that Finn Hakkinen is unlikely to return after spending time at home with his wife Erja and son Hugo, but countryman and former driver Rosberg believes more than a year's rest is not on the agenda.

"I have no doubt he will come back," said Rosberg. "He has not retired. He is only taking a sabbatical. This is common in the industrial world for all the top managers who lead a very highly stressed life and fast life. They take a sabbatical to be better in their professions. It is the same for Mika."

Rosberg described the decision by McLaren to allow Hakkinen a year off as their "goal" for the season, and he is delighted that Ron Dennis, boss of Hakkinen's Woking-based team, has accepted their pleas.

It is believed Hakkinen began talks with McLaren over his sabbatical as long ago as the Monaco Grand Prix in late May, so it has taken some three and a half months to convince McLaren bosses.

"Did I think it would end like this," questioned Rosberg. "Well, we have reached our goal. This was our goal. He wanted to take a break, and thanks to great cooperation from McLaren and other partners he will do. They were long negotiations and they were not accidental. They were a lot of hard work."

McLaren have ensured they have first pick on the Finn's services and with Raikkonen believed to be on a five year deal with McLaren, the pressure will be on current McLaren man David Coulthard to perform well enough next year to prevent Hakkinen's return