I have the utmost admiration for drivers like Moss, the Hills 
, Clark - how he only won 2 titles is beyond me - and many others who have been mentioned but I there is only one for me (even though Kimi, Lewis and Kamui have been more recent favourites).
I can't believe it is 10 years since Mika hung up his F1 driving gloves! He still is my favourite driver. Furiously fast and always with a desert dry sense of humour, you couldn't not like the guy.
Having watched in and out during the 97 season, 1998 was the first season I followed from start to finish. I suppose you could call it glory hunting but when you're 8/9 you always support the best
The Spa race that season pretty much hooked me. Anyway, Mika was always the one to challenge Schumi during these years and the record holder himself said that Hakkinen was the only driver he ever really feared - coming from a man who teamed with Piquet and raced against Senna must be saying something. 1999 was an unbelievably frustrating season for Mclaren and Mika fans - how many times do you have to trip up before falling over the line? Especially when your main rival is out for half the season!
2000 came along and I suppose it was only fitting that it was another epic battle between the Flying Finn and Herr Schumacher. Sadly, though, this time it would be the rainmeister that would come out on top. But the highlight of the season was Mika's legendary overtake at Spa - we all know it by now
His final season in 2001 was relatively disappointing (he was beaten by DC!) and the Mclaren was never quite quick enough to challenge Ferrari. A host of retirements dogged his season, most notably and heartbreaking for myself at Spain where he trounced the field and Schumacher (who was somewhat of a Catalunya specialist), led by 37 seconds only for his Mercedes engine to blow a gasket - I get the feeling this was when Mika felt he had enough of F1 and just wanted the season to finish. Only two wins followed in 2001 with his last hurrah coming at the US GP in Indianapolis.
A year sabbatical was to be followed by a return in 2003 but alas it was never to be - another Flying Finn had taken his seat at Mclaren.
, Clark - how he only won 2 titles is beyond me - and many others who have been mentioned but I there is only one for me (even though Kimi, Lewis and Kamui have been more recent favourites).I can't believe it is 10 years since Mika hung up his F1 driving gloves! He still is my favourite driver. Furiously fast and always with a desert dry sense of humour, you couldn't not like the guy.
Having watched in and out during the 97 season, 1998 was the first season I followed from start to finish. I suppose you could call it glory hunting but when you're 8/9 you always support the best
The Spa race that season pretty much hooked me. Anyway, Mika was always the one to challenge Schumi during these years and the record holder himself said that Hakkinen was the only driver he ever really feared - coming from a man who teamed with Piquet and raced against Senna must be saying something. 1999 was an unbelievably frustrating season for Mclaren and Mika fans - how many times do you have to trip up before falling over the line? Especially when your main rival is out for half the season!2000 came along and I suppose it was only fitting that it was another epic battle between the Flying Finn and Herr Schumacher. Sadly, though, this time it would be the rainmeister that would come out on top. But the highlight of the season was Mika's legendary overtake at Spa - we all know it by now
His final season in 2001 was relatively disappointing (he was beaten by DC!) and the Mclaren was never quite quick enough to challenge Ferrari. A host of retirements dogged his season, most notably and heartbreaking for myself at Spain where he trounced the field and Schumacher (who was somewhat of a Catalunya specialist), led by 37 seconds only for his Mercedes engine to blow a gasket - I get the feeling this was when Mika felt he had enough of F1 and just wanted the season to finish. Only two wins followed in 2001 with his last hurrah coming at the US GP in Indianapolis.
A year sabbatical was to be followed by a return in 2003 but alas it was never to be - another Flying Finn had taken his seat at Mclaren.
Brilliant! The nuggets we learn on CTA!
