Quote Originally Posted by Nitrodaze View Post
Don't get me wrong, l have a lot of respect for Mika Hakkinenn.
I don't think you do.

Quote Originally Posted by Nitrodaze View Post
He is a two times F1 driver world champion after all. He is one of three men to have beaten the great Michael Schumacher and one of two to beat him twice to F1 world championship titles. That is one of the highest accalade that any driver can claim in F1.
I don't like this opinion of yours. Schumacher is this great character that is the barometer where all drivers are judged by. A heroic character like in the movies. From Hakkinen's pov, Schumacher is just another guy, who he knows he can beat in an equal situation. You'd recognise this from his Beyond The Grid interview.

Hakkinen points out that they were the best drivers in F3 in 1990. But he was better still, as he flogged him in a one-off round in the German championship.

The following year, they both enter F1. Hakkinen with the small, under funded Lotus team. Jordan being a one off drive, Schumacher effectively started out in a race winning team.

Hakkinen produces great results at Lotus, but is overshadowed by Schumacher drivinging a better car, producing results that include winning a race.

1993 Portuguese GP. Having not raced all year, this race is notable for Hakkinen outqualifying Senna first time out. What's not recognised is that Hakkinen outqualified Schumacher by a second. 2-1 to Hakkinen in qualifying that year.

By the 1995-96 off season. Schumacher gets the best of everything, wins 2 championships 25+wins, and becomes this legendary figure. Hakkinen had to battle with Peugeot and MB grenades. Hakkinen then had to deal with a serious head injury.

Both beat Brundle and Herbert as team mates.

When he gets a more even situation in F1 to Schumacher, he wins the championship, and was ahead when Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone.

For you, beating Schumacher to an F1 title is the highest accolade a driver can claim in F1. For Hakkinen, beating Schumacher is like Rickard Rydell beating Tim Harvey at Volvo in the 1995 BTCC.