Todt: Mika return difficult after year off

Double world champion Hakkinen has been a thorn in Ferrari's side in recent year's, but has opted to take a year off next season in order to relax and spend some time with his family.

The flying Finn has not ruled out a return to racing and remains under contract to the McLaren-Mercedes team. However, despite the fact that at 33, Hakkinen is below the age that Todt considers 'past it', the Frenchman says that after just one year away from racing, it is not easy to come back.

"I think it can take just one year's rest to make an eventual return difficult," said Todt when asked during a visit to an Italian university whether three-time world champ Niki Lauda could ever return to the cockpit. "I also think that once you are past 35 or 36-years-old it is hard to stay very competitive."

Four-time world champion and Ferrari star Michael Schumacher will be 33 next month, but has yet to show any signs of heading into retirement.