Hakkinen speaks out

(11-Jul-98) - Twelve months ago Mika Hakkinen had never won a Formula One
race and many doubted if he ever would. Now, heading into the British Grand
Prix, he leads the world championship and has everything he needs to win
the world title. He spoke to www.autosportmag.com about the season so far
and what the rest of the year will bring.

Q: Ferrari have obviously closed the gap this year. Did you expect them to
catch up so much?
MH: I felt it. The domination we had at the start of the season was great
and also we are very experienced, we have seen this kind of thing happy
very often where teams start with a huge domination and then through the
season people start catching the. It is very logical. I didn't think about
it at the start of the season just when everybody would catch us, I didn't
think about whether it would be at Monaco, Magny Cours or here. I was just
concentrating on my job. That is the main thing, there is no reason to
worry about the other teams.

Q: Ferrari been through a huge step forward, are you able to make the same step?
MH: I think so. I think in a couple of races time we will be able to build
a bit of a gap because we have some developments coming. Bridgestone are
working very hard indeed and I know we are going to get much faster in the
future. The only difficulty is that you don't get anything in one night,
when you want it immediately, you have to wait. So you have to concentrate
on the things we have at the moment. So far, what we have at the moment is
quite good.

Q: Eddie irvine said in France that Ferrari would destroy you here. Do you
feel under any pressure?
MH: No. I think motor racing is always like this. There is always going to
be pressure and when you are in a leading position the pressure is going to
be even more. On the other hand I am in a fortunate position because I am
ahead and they are trying to catch me. I am leading, that is the most
important thing. I have raced many, many years, I have huge experience. I
have seen three or four times as much as many other Grand Prix drivers in
the field, and if they went better than me I would be very surprised.

Q: You've been around too long to be worried by words then?
MH: It certainly makes it interesting. Words don't mean anything.

Q: But Michael has started playing mind games, like he did with Damon.
MH: It worked with him. At the end of the day when you are on a race track
and you are performing on a track, I really don't feel that somebody
psychologically can affect you. The reason for that is that is shows a
weakness they have. At the moment we are leading the championship and are
very strong. It shows exactly their weakness, there are still many races to
go, a lot of things can happen and I am extrememly confident of the work
here. There are developments the team have done, so I don't want to worry
about what they are saying.

Q: You have an even temperament. Do you ever lose your temper?
MH: I don't know. Maybe I am always very serious. I suppose in your private
life you are more relaxed and can laugh a bit more and don't have to think
about what you say. When you see me I am serious because I am trying to
concentrate on what I am telling you, in a foreign language.

Q: But you never seem to lose your temper?
MH: No, unless somebody pisses me off I don't. There is a situation where
you can lose your temper and on a race track situations can happen when you
lose your temper, but it happens very rarely. But racing is about
controlling emotions, controlling yourself. If you start getting excited
and start feeling negative, then you start making mistakes. Eddie's
comments have been very funny and at the end he made a classic comment. If
it makes him happy then it is good for him, but he is fourth in the
championship and he should keep his mouth shut.

Q: You are 20 points ahead of your team-mate David Coulthard. Do you want
him to play a supporting role?
MH: At this time of the year it is not necessary for that kind of thing and
David is going flat out at the moment. I think he is going to be very quick
in races to come and he has been having bad luck to be honest. He
definitely has been performing and it would be silly to stop him. He
deserves his chance, if you put him on the side and get him to start saving
my bum, it is not right and is not going to help the situation at all.

Q: If you get the best out of car you don't really have to worry about
Ferrari do you?
MH: Exactly, but I wish it would be that simple. There are still partners
of the team, like Mobil, who have to work hard. Bridgestone must definitely
work hard to get better tyres and the same for Mercedes, it must be the
best of anything or we can't get the best out of the car. We are getting
more, but it definitely requires really high concentration and commitment
from these people.

Q: How does it feel to be leading the championship?
MH: It is great. I was expecting this the first time in 1991, but the car
was a bit old rate. It took a long time to be in the situation I am at the
moment and it does not feel strange because all the time I have been
preparing myself to be winning and being in the leading position in the
championship. So when it is happening it is what I have been expecting
anyway. Now it is feels good, I just wish I had a bit more of a points
lead.

Q: But at the end of season, you hope you will be world champion?
MH: That is what I am targeting, I am working hard for that and I have the
team, car, tyres and engine to do that. We will work harder than others.

Q: Do you discount David for the championship?
MH: Of course he has still got a chance. David is a very good guy, he has
all the chances in the world but he has to beat me first, of course. He is
quick and he will come back strong.

Q: Who is your bigger rival, Michael or David?
MH: I rate them both the same. I am not fighting against my team-mate, I
have tried to make David my friend and ally at work, but I rate David and
Michael as the drivers competing with me. That is the fact.

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