Mika Hakkinen was once left absolutely furious with Michael Schumacher after ‘very nasty’ move

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The beginning of the 21st century saw the continuation of an epic battle between McLaren and Ferrari at the front of the Formula 1 grid.

Michael Schumacher had left Benetton in 1996 to join Ferrari after winning his first two Drivers’ Championships with the team.

After years of rebuilding – and a horrific leg break in 1999 – Ferrari and Schumacher looked set to finally end their wait to win another championship.

The only thing standing in their way was McLaren and an in-form Mika Hakkinen.

Hakkinen won the 1998 and 1999 championships and was eyeing up an incredible hat-trick, with teammate David Coulthard supporting his cause.

With five races to go in the 2000 F1 season, the Belgian Grand Prix played host to one of the toughest battles between Schumacher and Hakkinen.

Hakkinen was two points clear of Schumacher when the race started at Spa, but as the Finn recalled on the Bring Back V10s Podcast, he wasn’t a fan of his rival’s tactics to stay ahead of him in the closing stages of the race.

Mika Hakkinen recalls ‘very nasty’ Michael Schumacher move at Spa

Hakkinen was quickly catching Schumacher in the closing stages of the race and after going flat out up Eau Rouge, sensed an opportunity to overtake the Ferrari.

He was quickly closing in and as he drifted towards the right to gain the inside line for the upcoming chicane, Schumacher closed the door at the last second just before he pulled alongside, forcing him to brake much earlier than he would have liked.

Reflecting on the battle, Hakkinen said: “It is incredible, you really are so p—– off when somebody does something like that, you are so p—– off.

“The words that you are thinking in your head in that moment, they are something that you don’t want to repeat.

“And even to push a button and talk on the radio to the team, it wouldn’t have made a difference.

READ MORE: Why F1 legend Mika Hakkinen made Ayrton Senna ‘totally mad’ during their first race as teammates in 1993

“The frustration is enormous, not frustration because you couldn’t overtake, but understanding how somebody could do that because you have to a few laps later, finish the Grand Prix, you have to face this other person, you have to face the TV, you have to face the fans and you have to explain your actions.

“When you are at those speeds on a race track and you are doing such an act when you are really pushing somebody on the grass at that high speed, there is no way you can look somebody in the eyes and say, ‘Well, I didn’t really mean to do that, my steering accidentally turned in that direction.’

“There’s no excuse, there’s no way you can go around it, it’s purposefully done, very nasty move.”

Mika Hakkinen won the battle at Spa but Michael Schumacher won the championship

The Finn got the move done in the end with what’s considered by fans to be one of Hakkinen’s best ever overtakes.

He was slightly closer on the next lap and backmarker Ricardo Zonta was ahead of both cars.

Schumacher chose to lap Zonta on the left, giving Hakkinen just enough to dive to the right again, this time passing both cars at the same time.

Journalist Edd Straw on the same episode argued that it was Zonta’s ‘greatest contribution’ to Formula 1, making sure he didn’t move too far out of Schumacher’s way, causing what would have been a high-speed crash with Hakkinen.

READ MORE: Why Michael Schumacher once labelled Lewis Hamilton ‘not very nice’ after cheeky on-track move

Schumacher was infamous for being boisterous on track, with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve well aware that the seven-time world champion would push the limits when a title was at stake.

Verstappen’s recent behaviour has been compared to Schumacher which will be seen as a compliment by many given their inane desire to win.

His old Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello was once terrified by Schumacher’s defending but it’s part of what made him one of the sport’s greatest drivers.