Monoposto

Nº 27

Mika Häkkinen

1998–99 World Champion

West McLaren Mercedes

Overview

Mika Pauli Häkkinen, born in Vantaa, Finland, on 28 September 1968 and known as the Flying Finn, won the World Drivers' Championship with McLaren in 1998 and 1999.1

He nearly died at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix, when a tyre failure in qualifying caused a skull fracture and trackside doctors had to perform an emergency tracheotomy.1 He recovered, and took his first win at the 1997 European Grand Prix.1

1998

Eight wins, 14 points clear of Michael Schumacher

Beating Schumacher

The season opened with a controversial win in Australia, after teammate David Coulthard let him past.1 He retired from Belgium after a collision with Schumacher, then settled the title with wins at the last two rounds, in Luxembourg and Japan.12

Every Grand Prix finish, 1998

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

1999

Five wins, two points clear of Eddie Irvine

Holding off Irvine

With Schumacher out injured, the fight became one with Ferrari's Eddie Irvine.1 Coulthard hit him from behind in Austria, and a tyre failure ended his German Grand Prix.1 Victory in the Japanese finale decided it, 76 points to 74.13

Every Grand Prix finish, 1999

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

4 photographs, in season order

Helmet

The drawing shows his 1998 helmet.

A drawing of his 1998 design.

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

McLaren MP4-13

Adrian Newey's MP4-13 won nine races in 1998, eight for Häkkinen and one for Coulthard, and McLaren took the constructors' title with 156 points.4 The MP4-14 followed in 1999.4

An MP4-13 at Techno-Classica Essen, 2018.

MarcelBuehner · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
1998
McLaren MP4-13
1999
McLaren MP4-14
MP4-13 engine
Mercedes-Benz FO-110G
MP4-13 team points
156

Road to the title

  1. 1987Won the Finnish, Swedish and Nordic Formula Ford championships.1
  2. 1990British Formula Three champion.1
  3. 1991Formula One debut with Lotus.1
  4. 1993Moved to McLaren.1
  5. 1997First win, at the European Grand Prix.1
  6. 1998–99World Drivers' Champion.1
  7. 2001Last win, at the United States Grand Prix, before retiring.1

Records

  • Back-to-back titles, 1998 and 19991

Sources