Mika Hakkinen might make a comeback?

[darcym]

not makiing excuses,

but for all we know - Ferrari are developing a new areo package with light fuel, or something, while mclaren are running mid distance runs ???

I have to admit probably wrongly I expected him to jump in the car and bang in laps within a second of his expected pace (I say expected in terms of Mclarens pace - as we don't know what the other teams are running)

[Knowlesy]

He'll get there I reckon. No way will he set the world alight straight off, if at all!

[darcym]

agreed, I just had it in my head he'd jump in and be off,

you know the old hands never lose it etc etc.

be very interesting to watch what his final times are.

Just wish there was an idea of knowing how he'd compare to a known quantity, eg: ferrari on a similar program, montoya or kimi in the mclaren.

The worst thing is, knowing how PR mclaren are, there is a possabiitity that even if he was struggling Ron wouldn't want his old pet shown up and would say "we where running long fuel runs, mika broke the lap records for long fuel runs" -

[strider]

Here you go: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/55843

Three seconds off Badoer and bottom of the time sheets, but I think that's still not bad for a first run.

[outflat]

And he used 1 set of tyres for the entire day

[Raglanparade]

77 Laps is a lot considering the forces on the body.

I would be under the impression that they probably wouldnt have wanted Mika to blow an engine or wreck a car....... so they gave him an engine with less revs, a full tank of fuel, and one set of tyres, and said "go play"

[JeremySmith]

Excellent time Mika well done

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by strider

Here you go: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/55843

Three seconds off Badoer and bottom of the time sheets, but I think that's still not bad for a first run.

Give him some time and he'll be in the top ten...

[shiny side up!]

Should do in a McLaren!

We can only speculate as to what equipment Mika was given... but I find it interesting that his times are slower than that of someone fairly talented in their very first outing in an F1 car... Hamilton was less than a second adrift of De La Rosa in his testing debut for Mclaren earlier this fall, and on day 2 was quicker than Pedro... For comparison, Kobayashi was 3.1 seconds of Panis in his testing debut for Toyota - and he is hardly rated a top talent.

Anyway, point is that although I like Mika, he is well past his prime in an F1 car, and I really don't understand what value this test brings to McLaren other than press or potential sponsorship... they will soon have the reigning F1 world champion testing for them, arguably the best rookie prospect in recent years already shouldering some load, and a third driver in de la Rosa that made the choice between himself and Hamilton very difficult... "Comparing" today's car (driven at a speed well of the pace) with what it used to be like 5 years ago is of limited value, if any.

[alesi95]

I cant help but think how this will go down with the othe Mclaren Drivers?
I'm sure Alonso wont be pleased that Mclaren are asking their former twice world champion driver and Rons bestest bud for advice, although of course Fernando probably wont be able to test til the new year.

But Lewis is free, Paffett is free, De la Rosa is free, doesnt mclaren trust them enough?

[strider]

Sadly, I think you have to forget about Paffett. He had his chance to shine in testing this year, but didn't really take it. It must be significant that McLaren didn't put him in the second car for any of the races after JPM left.

Lewis's testing has not been interrupted. He did all three days at Barcelona.

Obviously McLaren doesn't rate de la Rosa highly enough to keep him in the second car, but I think his testing contributions are still valued. He was quite miffed to lose the race drive, btw, which is strange considering that everyone else thought it was inevitable.

There is an interesting post-test interview with Mika here: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/55851

He wants to do more, but I must admit I don't see where he would fit in, especially once Alonso is released to test and bearing in mind the limited mileage allowed next year.

[OZ_HCR32]

Im a little lost what Mika has to offer the team from a testing perspective? Good on him for jumping in and punching out respectable lap times...but i doubt he will be beack. In fact i will be disappointed if he is. He has had his day, he walked away when he still had a few good years left (????) so time to let the young guys get some seat time.

[JeremySmith]

I think we might be missing the real plot here.. I believe that Mika has been brought in firstly as a morale booster for the team, and secondly to see what he thinks of the car before Fernando Alonso drives for them..Mika was always a very popular chap at McLaren. He also won two WDC while at McLaren..

I think it is a great idea myself and I can see Ferrari asking Michael to do the same for them.

[courageous]

Two letter reason for all of this: PR

[luke]

Exactly. With the world champion on board, and may I add, double world champion, they don't need Mika's advice. This was six years a go now. I can't see much more he could add other then as pointed out, PR.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by courageous

Two letter reason for all of this: PR

That too and what is wrong with that may I ask?

[shiny side up!]

Another comparison for Mika's testing speed:

Hirate in his first F1 test at Jerez today was 2 seconds off Massa's pace, and only 1.1 seconds off the other Toyota in the hands of Montagny.