|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
6 May 2001, 14:26 (Ref:89658) | #1 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 204
|
Hakkinen's Future Unclear
McLaren's Mercedes sporting director Norbert Haug has quashed claims that their star driver Mika Hakkinen is about to call it a day.
'I can 100 percent guarantee that there is no truth to any of this,' he said. Hakkinen's contract as in the case of team-mate David Coulthard, expires at the end of this season, with many predicting as long ago as last year, that the Finnish driver would pack it in at the end of 2001 especially once it was discovered he was about to become a father. The rumours surrounding Hakkinen's future, were first fuelled after the double world champion revealed in his opinion it was 'too dangerous' to continue in Formula One once the responsibility of children entered the equation. Further doubts surfaced recently when the Finn's manager Keke Rosberg refused to confirm that Hakkinen would be racing for McLaren next year. |
||
__________________
Formula 1 is the queen of motorsports but F1world.be is your portal to the Formula 1 |
6 May 2001, 15:17 (Ref:89676) | #2 | ||
Race Official
20KPINAL
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 21,606
|
Everything looks like he'll be retiring at the end of the season.
Heidfeld on the way ? |
||
__________________
Show me a man who won't give it to his woman An' I'll show you somebody who will |
6 May 2001, 23:11 (Ref:89791) | #3 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,491
|
If Mika retired after this year, there would be a mad scramble for the vacant seat from every other driver in F1, including the test drivers. Managers would be haggling to break current contracts just to put their charge into the Mclaren seat. TGF might be the only exception, but even that could be a possibility.
|
||
|
7 May 2001, 00:15 (Ref:89809) | #4 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,565
|
That is for sure, VB, except for perhaps the Williams duo. Other teams may be reluctant to part with their young hotshots. I think the edge goes to Heidfeld, based on history, but I'd sure like it to be Jacques.
Just think if both MS and Mika retired after this year. With Rubens expected to be gone as well, there could be some top seats available next year. I expect the rumour mill to be heating up in a big way from the midpoint of the season on, especially once the relative performance of the cars under the new regs. is figured out. This will be one of the most interesting silly seasons ever. Mika is still a very quick driver, but there is no doubt that parenthood takes an edge off things, especially if you've accomplished the goal of top level racing, twice. I suspect Mika doesn't know what he wants to do either. |
||
|
7 May 2001, 17:48 (Ref:89928) | #5 | |
Racer
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 374
|
Your in the right area that one of the Mclaren seats will become vacant at the end of the year but it will not be Hakkinen, Coulthard is already looking eleswhere for 2002.
Guy |
|
|
7 May 2001, 18:25 (Ref:89934) | #6 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,035
|
Get JB or NH in at McLaren!
|
||
__________________
DILLIGAF DIGAF DIF |
7 May 2001, 19:18 (Ref:89942) | #7 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 260
|
Quote:
It look's as though we are in for quite a few driver changes next season including the top teams. Should be intresting. |
||
|
7 May 2001, 21:54 (Ref:90003) | #8 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 38
|
With Hakkinen MAY BE! Finishing this year and DC looking for a team that believes in him there could be two seats up at McLaren next year…
|
||
|
8 May 2001, 00:29 (Ref:90041) | #9 | ||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,643
|
I'm not sure how true this may be, as was mentioned, I don't think Mika even knows.
As for DC looking for another ride, who would have him. Williams & Ferrari would pass, so his choices are to stay at Mac and hope they get behind him, or go to a midfield team. Either way, 2001 seems to be DC's only hope to be WDC. |
||
__________________
#Keepfightingmichael |
8 May 2001, 00:47 (Ref:90048) | #10 | ||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,306
|
If DC scores second or third and stays ahead of Hakkinen in the WDC, AND IF Hakkinen decides to call it a day, DC will stay in the seat. McLaren needs continuitiy. The only other driver who might provide it is Wurz, and given the choice of the two, I'd take Coulthard.
Maybe Panis is a remote possibility, but in testing his times were no better than DC's. My guess is Coulthard and a youngster, most likely Heidfeld. |
||
__________________
Go Tribe!!!! |
8 May 2001, 08:06 (Ref:90103) | #11 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 645
|
I agree with Wrex, DC has none alternatives to get winning seat. His chances are growing in Mac if Mika retires.
Regarding Mika, his seat if going to be vacant soon. This season has shown that Cranky become more carefull and doesn't take a risk anymore. So Merc protege Nick will drive Mac next year. |
||
__________________
R/F |
8 May 2001, 11:43 (Ref:90165) | #12 | ||
Race Official
20KPINAL
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 21,606
|
Agreed !
David Coulthard is more likely to stay with Hakkinen's retirement. And Heidfeld will join him next season. |
||
__________________
Show me a man who won't give it to his woman An' I'll show you somebody who will |
8 May 2001, 11:52 (Ref:90170) | #13 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,366
|
Quote:
Brilliant synopsis EEROS. Simply breathtaking in it's scope and colour. But wouldn't it be easier to say that DC will retain his seat against a bunch of wannabes? |
|||
__________________
I am grateful that I am not as judgemental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me. |
8 May 2001, 11:55 (Ref:90171) | #14 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,366
|
Quote:
|
|||
__________________
I am grateful that I am not as judgemental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me. |
8 May 2001, 23:12 (Ref:90546) | #15 | |
Racer
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 374
|
Lets be fair this is all wild specualtion based on the fact Hakkinen has less points on the board than Coulthard.
Ron Dennis will not allow Hakkinen to retire yet and will prefer to keep him rather than Coulthard even if he wins the championship. Hakkinen is no further from retiring than M.Schumacher at the end of 2001, Coulthard is looking for a new drive in 2002 he has few options. Guy |
|
|
9 May 2001, 22:09 (Ref:90840) | #16 | ||
Race Official
20KPINAL
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 21,606
|
AMoffat, Ok...
DC can play after Hakkinen's retirement. |
||
__________________
Show me a man who won't give it to his woman An' I'll show you somebody who will |
10 May 2001, 00:19 (Ref:90886) | #17 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Feb 1999
Posts: 75
|
When Hakkinen goes give the seat to Dario Franchitti
|
||
|
10 May 2001, 03:14 (Ref:90905) | #18 | |||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,306
|
Quote:
|
|||
__________________
Go Tribe!!!! |
10 May 2001, 12:14 (Ref:90982) | #19 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,366
|
Quote:
Dario has one thing and one thing only going for him. His girlfriend Ashley, otherwise the guy is like rooms for rent yeah? |
|||
__________________
I am grateful that I am not as judgemental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me. |
10 May 2001, 12:19 (Ref:90983) | #20 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,366
|
Quote:
What can I say to all that EERO? Hang on, rule the world by Fiat? Some overly rust prone shyyteful eyetalian car? Why I bet they never even made a V8! |
|||
|
10 May 2001, 17:01 (Ref:91048) | #21 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 851
|
Quote:
Last edited by badoer fan; 10 May 2001 at 17:02. |
|||
|
10 May 2001, 17:37 (Ref:91056) | #22 | |||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,306
|
Quote:
|
|||
__________________
Go Tribe!!!! |
10 May 2001, 18:08 (Ref:91065) | #23 | |||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 3,797
|
Utterly off topic, but I couldn't resist...
Quote:
|
|||
|
10 May 2001, 21:01 (Ref:91106) | #24 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,366
|
I feel I may have been misrepresented.
It's still a shyyteful eyetalian car. With or without a V8 |
||
__________________
I am grateful that I am not as judgemental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Coulthard future unclear | Knowlesy | Formula One | 42 | 13 Apr 2005 00:44 |
Hakkinen's near miss at the Start | EERO | Formula One | 11 | 3 Apr 2001 16:59 |
Hakkinen's brain | Chris Y | Formula One | 10 | 17 Jul 2000 23:47 |