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Mika Hakkinen shared some thrilling title fights with Michael Schumacher during the latter years of the 1990s, and has recently revealed the way in which he figured out how to beat him ahead of their title decider at the 1998 Japanese Grand Prix.
The final few years of the millennium in Formula 1 saw the Flying Finn emerge as a Grand Prix winner, which turned him into a consistent member of the top step of the podium on his way to winning consecutive titles in 1998 and 1999.
Hakkinen sees McLaren’s signing of Adrian Newey as a pivotal moment in his career, due to the fact that the design genius took the British constructor to the next level in a period marked by the dominance of Williams.
Despite the championships that followed for Hakkinen, the Finnish racing driver holds that decision as the happiest moment of his F1 career. He knew that Newey was the last piece in the puzzle for him to become a world champion.
Mika Hakkinen recalls how he got the better of Michael Schumacher in the 1998 F1 title decider
In a recent video on F1’s official YouTube channel, Hakkinen detailed the events that led to him taking victory at the final race of the 1998 campaign, which etched his name in history as the first world champion to hail from Finland.
He said, “The World Championship race in ’98, in Suzuka. It was the last Grand Prix of the year. I had a few points lead compared to Michael Schumacher that weekend. It was really tough.
“I was thinking, like, what am I going to do? How am I able to win this race? I was thinking about how I’m going to go to the first corner, what I’m going to do in the first lap, and what I’m going to do in the second lap.
“And then I thought, hold on a second. I don’t even know if I’m going to lead the race in the first corner. So, where am I going to put my focus and concentration?
“Then I thought, Mika, put all your energy into only the start. So when the light goes off, just focus on that. I thought I just had to go for it. I just have to make the best start of my life. And it worked. It worked.”
Hakkinen took the lead ahead of pole-sitter Schumacher, who was forced to retire from the Grand Prix due to a puncture sustained on the 31st lap.
Having already clinched the title following the unfortunate early ending for his title rival, the Finn returned to the pit lane in style as he went on to take the chequered flag as the race winner.
Mika Hakkinen would go on to replicate his feat at the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix
Hakkinen and Schumacher would butt heads again in the first half of the 1999 season, but the German legend’s title hopes were cut short after he broke his leg in a nasty shunt at the British Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver was ahead of the now seven-time world champion by eight points at the time, and faced stern competition from Schumacher’s Ferrari counterpart, Eddie Irvine, in the remaining races of the championship.
Hakkinen ended up clinching the title yet again at the Japanese Grand Prix. Heading into the final race of the year, four points behind Irvine, the Flying Finn had to be perfect, which is exactly what he was.
He went on to take the race victory, and with the Irishman only mustering a third-place finish, the title was once again Hakkinen’s to take home.
Schumacher would return to action at the final two races of the season, taking pole position in both races before coming home to finish second.
Hakkinen and Schumacher would continue to juke it out in the following terms, with one incident at the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix leaving a sour taste in both drivers’ mouths.
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