Mika Hakkinen Q&A

(30-Sep-98) -

Q: Can you now start thinking about winning the World Championship?

MH: "I've always dreamt of that a little bit but I'm not going to
allow myself to start thinking about it yet."

Q: Was this the best drive of your career?

MH: "It's sometimes difficult to realise the importance of a victory
straight afterwards. Your mind is so focused and there are no real
emotions. It comes later on. I remember winning Monaco or Austria, there
was just great happiness from the team and strangely enough, at the moment
winning here I'm not too excited about it. I know it's important and very
good but this is the most important time - now we have to work and fight.
There is one chance left. If we get it right, we can do it. If we fail, we
will lose it."

Q: Did you ever think your chances were slipping away in the last two or three races?

MH: "Yes and no. I don't let myself go that deeply into thinking about
it. The only solution is to keep fighting to the end. I never thought:
'That's it, we are not good enough anymore.'"

Q: Is heading into the final race with a four-point cushion a big
psychological advantage?

MH: "It is."

Q: How much does winning the title mean to you?

MH: "That's a heavy question. I don't want to think about it too much,
so I cannot answer now. But it is important. It is something that can
happen maybe once in your lifetime."

--- Msged/386 4.20 beta 4