Spin costs Mika 10 points

Hakkinen reached second after a series of breathtaking overtaking moves, dropped to eighth after attempting to grab first place from Rubens Barrichello, eventually took the lead late on only to finish second to Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

'The spin cost me victory,'admitted Hakkinen.

'That's the reason why I was second, but after all that happened that does not matter. It was a great race and great fun.

'As the rain started things got tricky and I made a mistake. It took me a while to recover, but the challenge of driving back to the lead was satisfying.

'There were so many things that happened. I have usually been at the front of the road this season so to start 14th was a new experience. But I felt really comfortable with the car and that meant I was able to push right on the limit for 80 per cent of the race.

'After the last pit-stop the team told me to hold position and not risk losing six points by attempting to pass what would have been an understandable very determined Frentzen.'

Hakkinen, who will take an eight point lead over Schumacher to Britain in two weeks time, added, 'I am not thinking about that. There are still nine races to go in the championship.'