Hakkinen finds today’s F1 more exciting than in his time
Mika Hakkinen appreciates the current Formula 1 and finds it more interesting than it was 11 years ago when he ended his Formula 1 driving career.
While some find F1 too artificial, particularly in terms of overtaking with KERS and DRS, Mika Hakkinen believes that current F1 is more interesting than in his time.
Hakkinen, who is still present in the paddock, particularly to manage the career of his compatriot Valtteri Bottas, the third Williams driver, raced in Formula 1 for a decade, from 1991 to 2001. He believes that the efforts made by the FIA in recent years to improve the spectacle in F1 have paid off.
The Finnish driver, double world champion with the McLaren team in 1998 and 1999, told the Finnish daily newspaper Turun Sanomat that the show and on-track duels are much more exciting to follow today than in his time: “The racing today is undoubtedly better than in my day. Nowadays, there are so many different winners driving for different teams, and so many overtakes and battles. Overall, it’s really more exciting now than it was when I was racing.”
This 2012 season saw seven different winners in the first seven Grand Prix races – a new record in F1 – including the arrival of new drivers on the top step of the podium, led by Nico Rosberg.
