Mika Hakkinen is aware of a factor or two about what it’s prefer to grow to be world champion, because the Finn did it himself in 1998 and 1999, and as such he additionally is aware of first hand how necessary it’s to have a useful teammate, which Max Verstappen didn’t have in 2024, since Sergio Perez was nowhere to be discovered on the entrance to take factors off the Dutchman’s rivals. This makes Vestappen’s feat much more commendable.
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Within the late 90’s when Hakkinen received the F1 World Championship twice he had David Coulthard as a teammate at McLaren. “I used to be very lucky to win a World Championship and because of you, David, twice. You already know, twice and because of David and the nice teamwork that we did [together],” the previous Components One driver advised the F1 Talks programme of Viaplay. Coulthard was additionally current there as a presenter.
“There is no approach the motive force can win races, win a championship, until you might have a robust staff, you might have a robust teammate,” Hakkinen continued. The previous double world champion finds it outstanding that Verstappen managed to clinch the 2024 drivers’ title given Perez’ performances. “How Max is ready to do this sort of outcome when his teammate, yeah, Sergio Perez, isn’t capable of give any– I do not wish to say any sort of help, however everyone knows, and I feel everyone’s been speaking about it complete 12 months about his efficiency. And I feel that has been undoubtedly tremendous disappointing, his efficiency.”
Perez needed to remain regardless of having misplaced “the sting”?
Regardless of the dearth of constructive outcomes, again and again Perez said he had no intention of leaving Pink Bull. However after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, the Austrian racing staff and the Mexican driver agreed to half methods previous to the 2025 season begin, selling younger racing ace, Liam Lawson, to Pink Bull Racing, and rookie Isack Hadjar, one other Pink Bull junior expertise, to companion Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls.
“I retired fairly early in my profession as a result of I felt like, ‘oh, I begin dropping a little bit bit edge.’ I made a decision that is it I higher give area for the younger drivers and Sergio retains, nonetheless my opinion, stored saying that approach ‘sure I can do it,'” concludes Hakkinen.
This text was written in collaboration with Corwin Kunst.
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