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Has Mika Hakkinen lost interest ?

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Mika Hakkinen has won the driver's title 2 years in a row and is hoping to make it 3 in a row and becoming only the second driver ever to do so. He started the season in his usual style by taking pole in Australia, Brazil and San Marino. In Australia and Brazil he retired due to car failure and in San Marino he came second to Michael Schumacher after claiming that he suffered a problem. Since then he has not taken pole position, in fact in the last 2 events he did not manage to qualify or finish in the top 3. Rumours that he will be retiring at the end of the season have been strongly denied and the rumour that his wife Erja is pregnant is considered personal matter. So why is 'the best qualifier' not living up to expectations ?

Has Mika Hakkinen lost interest in the championship or is he just going through a period of bad luck ? What do you think ?  (What others are saying)

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What others are saying:

Hakkinen lost intrest no way if he did why would he be racing? - Boomer - Australia.


NO ! Mika is not losing his interest, it's just that his car is not a good one. It can be seen from the engine troubles he got for many times. It seems that his car was not ready for this season and this is the thing which made him very disappointed.  But not in France GP, I could feel its improvement and I believe he'll show his best performance in the next races. Just wait and see !! - Dian - Indonesia.


I always believe in any player in any kind of contest that will be keep competitive. The only reason Hakkinen's performance is down is because he is unable to bite off more than he can chew. So it is not lost interest or bad luck. The problem is that the environment has changed - Humane W - Taiwan.


I think Mika is suffering from a loss of motivation, as we saw last year when he made quite a few mistakes and was very fortunate that Michael Schumacher was not around to capitalise. This year seems to be the same, only more so - Robert  H- Ireland.


2 swallows do not a summer make. Someone said that and it seems fairly appropriate here. Mika has had an astounding run of luck over the past two years. Some of it has been bad, but generally it has helped him to 2 world championships.

Mika is still the best qualifier and fastest (not best - that's Schumacher's crown) driver in F1.

I wonder how any of us would react in the current high downforce, no overtaking environment if we couldn't put together that one perfect lap in qualifying, something Mika has had more success at than anyone else. Mika has been criticised for not being more aggressive during the last couple of races but if I had one eye on a rapidly disappearing 3rd crown and the other on the impossibility of passing multiple cars (even one needs the driver being passed to make a mistake) I guess I would sit in the procession too.

Mika will come back, win more pole positions, and, I suspect, lose the title to Schumacher, with Coulthard as a close third in the race - Geoff H- Australia.


I believe that Mika Hakkinen has not lost interest, but rather, motivation. David Coulthard is fighting for his first championship. Michael Schumacher is fighting to win Ferrari's first Driver's championship in approximately 20 years. I believe that Mika is a driver that needs that inspiration, whether it be the total backing of his team, his fans, or even his car (meaning reliability). I think he lacks the drive to do it this year. His team is equally backing him and David, his fans are being critical and the car is not the best this year. Unfortunately, you will encounter these types of drivers, who need that pat on the back to strive. As one person has pointed out, it separates the winners from the champions - Nick M- Canada.


I don't think he has lost interest. Two races is not a big enough sample to decide whether he cares anymore or not. If he doesn't qualify well in the next couple of races, then we may have some idea. For the moment he's simply being outperformed on the day - Steven G- Australia.


Absolutely not - Mika has always come up when needed. He is by no doubt still the best and fastest driver in Formula 1 circuits. Just look at the fastest lap records. Every time he has had no problems with his car, he has set the fastest lap just as he did last weekend in Canada

We are only about halfway into the season, Mika will come back as he has done in the last 2 years !! - Kari- USA.


I think Mika has not lost interest. He is just (for lack of a better word) upset. It is clear that there is currently a problem with Mika and he is reacting to it in traditional Finnish style. Knowing a few Finns, I can tell you that when faced with a problem the classic response is to not say anything and show disinterest.   However, after some time Sisu takes over and they come back stronger and more determined than ever. I think we saw a bit of this in the race in Montreal when he put in the fastest lap. Had it not been for the rain we may have seen a completely different result on the podium. The old Mika will return and be better than ever... it is just a matter of when - Wayne V. - Canada.


No I think Hakkinen was very lucky to win the driver's championship two years in a row, and I think Mercedes over did it trying to make the engine lighter and so they missed out on the first two races and circumstances that ruined Schumacher's chances the past two years are now haunting Hakkinen - Alwaleed A. - USA.


No!, Ferrari has matched them technologically, and improved reliability!. Factor in that they have the best two drivers at both qualifying and racing, I believe Ferrari has put the pressure on. Mika and David can kiss the driver's and constructor's championship goodbye!! - Victor D. - USA.


When I heard a report that someone claimed Mika Hakkinen should change teams because he has lost his motivation I immediately disagreed but after seeing my hero this weekend I have to say Mika Hakkinen is not himself. The Mika Hakkinen of Old would have pressured the car in front a lot more than he did this weekend, rather than sit back and wait for the car in front to PIT. Yes some of the recent results are bad luck, for example the qualifying in Monaco where every flying lap of his was interrupted by a flag. But ever since Ron Dennis said that Mika was the pole king of all time, Mika has just looked like he doesn't care anymore. What ever it is I hope he snaps out of it because even this dedicated fan cannot stand many more boring races where the race leader's biggest challenge was enabling the pit lane speed limiter at the appropriate time and where the only highlights were a passing move by Verstappen and a car going up in flames at the end of the pit lane. Sorry but I stayed up till 2:50am and was very disappointed - Notorious - Australia.


I don't think Mika has lost interest. Having won 2 back to back Championships anyone would be even more motivated to win a third one. I don't deny that Schuey is a superb driver but it's just that nothing is going right for McLaren right now. Yes, DC wouldn't have won at Monaco but would Schuey have won the first two races if not for the retirement of the 2 McLaren cars??. I seriously doubt so. Anyway, many congratulations to the Ferrari team for their reliability this year and let's all enjoy the F1 season no matter who wins. I guess by now you would have realised that I'm McLaren fan. Cheers !! - Terence T. - Australia.


I have always been a Schumacher fan and I know little of Hakkinen. However, I had the chance to see Hakkinen's real character in one of the races when he did not finish due to a mistake he did. He was shown on world-wide TV seemingly sobbing his frustration away under the shades of the trees. If he breaks down because of frustration, I am not surprised to see him not able to handle the fact that perhaps DC might be better than him and perhaps feels that McLaren is giving DC the support and attention that he should otherwise be receiving. Yes, I believe he lost interest altogether.
When Schumacher's car broke down in Monaco when he was way ahead, it was apparent that this was taken in stride. On TV, you could see Michael join the pit crew at the rails to cheer on Barrichelo, without appearing to sulk on his misfortune. In F1, as in other sports, character separates the true champions from mere winners. The Finn can learn a thing or two by just enjoying the sport he loves most - Manny P. - Philippines.


Mika hasn't lost interest. He is just feeling the pressure of Michael Schumachers' presence. Hopefully he'd get his act together, and make this season a classic one til the end. As for me, I'll forever be a Ferrari fan - Bong - Philippines.

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