Hakkinen to BAR?

[Sato san]

i kind of agree....abit like Mansell done when he looked at returning with Jordan in 1996

[climb]

rightly observant Sato, as usual

[Kicking-back]

Mika is a great driver, a great champion and I always supported him.


But he's not the future - Davidson is.

[Super Tourer]

I can't see Mika coming back myself, the reasons he gave for retirement are still as valid now as they were then, surely Ralf's accident is a very recent example of what can happen.

He may be 'bored' with life outside F1, but that's not a good enough reason to come back IMO, and despite his illustrious career, that is in the past.

In his final season when he had the big off at Australia when the suspension broke, it was alleged that it really shook Mika and he 'spooked' himself into believing he felt something wrong with the car at other races.

It's a risk for him to come back, and it's equally risky for a team to run a driver who's heart isn't really in it, which I suspect Mika's may not be when push comes to shove.

[Kicking-back]

Absolutely right, ST.

It's those very reasons that make me pretty certain Mika is having a laugh and has no intention of coming back.

[jhansen]

I seriously doubt his return as well. But I've seen some interesting comments from the former champ. Such as:

"There is no smoke without fire," Hakkinen told Finnish Television. "I don't want to say more at the moment. Suffice to say the discussions with BAR are particularly interesting."

Article cited:

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.h...06200258.shtml

I'm not so sure about the source, but it's an interesting quote. Maybe it is all just a joke, or maybe not.

[Kicking-back]

That quote from Mika isn't accurate.

He actually said "particularly as the situation around BAR is so hot"

He did not say he'd had discussions.

[jhansen]

Like I said, wasn't sure about the source. Typical hack F1 journalism then.

[ralf fan]

I still cant see Mika back in f1...first it was JV and now that he is not getting a top drive next year the media say it is Hak whos coming back!

[SKT]

I agree Ralf Fan, I can't see Mika coming back, and if he did I think it wouldn't be a wise choice for bith BAR and himself.

Mika should just enjoy his life - spend his money, hang out with his lovely wife and family and just learn to enjoy.

I don't believe he's even mentally and physically ready to drive an F1 car anymore - I'd be hard press to believe that he could turn around in such a short period of time - but who knows...?

This is the silly season after all, and it wouldn't surprise me if it got even sillier...

[300kph]

Originally posted by jhansen
I seriously doubt his return as well. But I've seen some interesting comments from the former champ. Such as:

"There is no smoke without fire," Hakkinen told Finnish Television. "I don't want to say more at the moment. Suffice to say the discussions with BAR are particularly interesting."

Article cited:

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.h...06200258.shtml

I'm not so sure about the source, but it's an interesting quote. Maybe it is all just a joke, or maybe not.

in addition to these, i have heard from an italian media that Hack is due to test a BAR in October...

[Kirk]

Originally posted by Super Tourer
I can't see Mika coming back myself, the reasons he gave for retirement are still as valid now as they were then, surely Ralf's accident is a very recent example of what can happen.

He may be 'bored' with life outside F1, but that's not a good enough reason to come back IMO, and despite his illustrious career, that is in the past.

In his final season when he had the big off at Australia when the suspension broke, it was alleged that it really shook Mika and he 'spooked' himself into believing he felt something wrong with the car at other races.

It's a risk for him to come back, and it's equally risky for a team to run a driver who's heart isn't really in it, which I suspect Mika's may not be when push comes to shove.

Well put ST and I totally agree. Mika clearly lost his nerve then and it is unlikely that it will return now, especially after after such a lay off; although he may have fleeting thoughts of returning it's pure fantasy imo.