Thursday 30th November 2006

Häkkinen to drive in F1 again?

Flying Finn test drives the latest McLaren

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Mika Häkkinen to steer in F1 again?

Double F1 world champion Mika Häkkinen is to drive a McLaren Mercedes F1 car again, five years after his retirement from the series.

The team said that Mika asked for the opportunity to re-familiarise himself with a Formula 1 car, so McLaren will use Mika's experience and get feedback with regards to changes in downforce, engine and tyres following the regulatory changes which have occurred since he last drove a Formula 1 car.

Presumably, both McLaren's new drivers are still under contract to their old teams, and are unable to fulfil this role -- either that or the 38-year-old Häkkinen plots a return to the track; he is after all the same age as Michael Schumacher, who will be 38 in January.

Since retiring from Formula 1, Mika has competed in the DTM Touring Car Championship as a works driver for Mercedes-Benz with an AMG-Mercedes C Class.

"I'm really excited about driving a Team McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car again and to be re-engaging with the team," said the Finn. "I have followed the Formula 1 World Championship closely since my retirement at the end of the 2001 season, but it was when I was at this year's Brazilian Grand Prix as a guest of the team that I really felt I would like to get a chance to drive a Formula 1 car again. I have recently spent some time in Team McLaren Mercedes' simulator in Woking and to get the possibility to drive the MP4-21 is something I'm really looking forward to. I would like to thank Ron and Norbert for making this happen. This test is a chance for me to see how much Formula 1 cars have advanced and experience first hand what they are like to drive today as well as providing the team with some feedback on various aspects of the car's performance."

"We are delighted to provide Mika with the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car again," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis. "He's really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a current Formula 1 car. A driver of Mika's calibre and experience can only bring added value to our testing programme and his feedback after Thursday's running will be valuable to the team in our preparations for the 2007 season. However at this stage there are no plans for Mika to conduct further tests for the team."

McLaren has been testing at Circuit de Catalunya since Tuesday 28th November with Lewis Hamilton and Pedro de la Rosa. Mika will take over from Pedro on the Thursday 30 November. The Barcelona test will be followed by two additional tests in Jerez, Spain before Christmas.

So it's just temporary then.

[Drgp]

"I have recently spent some time in Team McLaren Mercedes' simulator in Woking..."

They have a simulator in Woking? umm. do they ever let anyone else have a go? How many times do I have to say please?

[rubystone]

I had a trip round an F2 team's facility recently. We looked through the window of one room... A bank of servers, a desk and an office chair....with a full-on F1 steering wheel clamped onto the desk - apparently simulates each and every corner of every circuit - a combination of low-tech surroundings but hi-tech equipment!

[turbobungle]

Will he be back in F1?? Maybe he'd consider it now that Michael has retired!

Bungle
www.turbobungle.com

[silv]

Makes a lot of sense to me for Mika head up the testing and the young guns to do the racing. I reckon Schumacher will be doing a similar thing at Ferrari.

[trenchtown]

silv said:

Makes a lot of sense to me for Mika head up the testing and the young guns to do the racing. I reckon Schumacher will be doing a similar thing at Ferrari.

It does make sense doesn't it?

2007 will be so sexy

[LongQ]

Hmm.

So the Test Driver role becomes a route OUT to retirement rather then a route IN for a young aspirant.

Interesting concept.

What's the point of having a simulator with an office chair? You need something that throws you around to simulate the G forces!

[tombaron]

I vaguely remember when he left F1 he said it was only going to be a brief break. Good to see him back.

[davy9449]

tombaron said:

I vaguely remember when he left F1 he said it was only going to be a brief break. Good to see him back.

Brief!! 5 years isn't exactly brief is it. Can't see him racing again like, although I'd be happy to see him return