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TheFinn wrote: No no no no, not H?kkinen back to F1... his days are over in F1!

Hakkinen: Car hasn't changed a lot
On Thursday Mika Hakkinen returned at McLaren for a test session in the McLaren MP4-21. He completed a total of 79 laps and after the test the Finn admitted he would love to test again.

Looking back at his day of testing he told F1Racing.net: "It was an excellent day, very exciting. I drove 79 laps, and that's a lot at Barcelona. The track is quite demanding, lots of corners were the g-load is quite high. I'm very happy to have driven so many laps without any problems."

In the morning Hakkinen completed a number of installation runs but wasn't able to run the scheduled programme. "This morning we weren't able to start the programme in a normal way as we had some problems that we found this morning. So we had to work all morning until lunchtime to find the right set-up and I have to admit, we did a great job. It was really enjoyable work," explained Hakkinen.

Some would have expected Hakkinen to be right at the pace. But Hakkinen urges to keep the expectations low. "The purpose for today was not to impress anybody, we just had to find a good feeling and understand Formula 1 and find out if it has changed a lot since 2001. Surprisingly, the change was very little.

"There is a lot more electronics in the car, nowadays. That can be a good or a bad thing, because it helps you in the corners, but it can also be very confusing. So you really have to stay calm and a focused mind, because it can influence your lap time easily by more than a second and the driver doesn't even notice it.

"The V10 had more explosive power and very impressive torque, now it seems like you have less. Technology has gone forward, so the drivability is very smooth and that feels fantastic. I think Mercedes has done very good work. We didn't have any problems."

For Hakkinen it was an interesting day at Circuit de Catalunya. McLaren has said it was a one-time test for Hakkinen for now, but the Finn wouldn't mind to try the car again obviously. "I would love to drive the car at another test," he said. "It's getting better and better all the time and I understand the braking points, the acceleration points and the set-up of the car. Today I only used one set of tyres, so it was very difficult.

"In a next test I would be stronger and quicker and I would have more knowledge about the car. But we will have to discuss that and see what happens. I really have to see how the team liked this and then we will have to see what we can do."

gkaytaz wrote:

TheFinn wrote: No no no no, not H?kkinen back to F1... his days are over in F1!

That's not exactly what he seems to think According to the reports he has thoroughly enjoyed driving an F1 car after 5 years... Question is, how wide-spread his joy will prove to be McLaren seats look to be confirmed but that does not mean a whole lot nowadays.

cmlean wrote:So........................Super Aguri may sign him

TheFinn wrote:

cmlean wrote:So........................Super Aguri may sign him

Yea you got a poin there cause Super Aguri si not a F1 car!!

mlittle wrote:

TheFinn wrote:

Julian Mayo wrote:
F1
A1GP
WRC
Renault Series
GMT
V8Supercars
F3
and I think I just saw an ice berg on the port bow

And, if you have a chance, don't forget.....
IRL
ChampCar
American LeMans
Grand-Am
and I think I just saw the same iceberg Julian saw......

TheFinn wrote:

gkaytaz wrote:Finn, we talked about Finns a bit. Now lemme ask you another question: how do you rate Alonso and Massa? You think Alonso will be as strong in the McL as he was in the Renault? And the Ferrari team: Massa-Kimi seems to be a good combo but they may steal each other's championship points. What's your take on that?

Of course that is a question directed to all

Both Alonso and Massa I rate high as well. Both drivers are very tallent, and when you look at that kind of high tallented drivers you have to searh for small details to make some small difference in them. I allways rated Alonso high but I also tought that he has a very strong head! He proved me wrong in the end of this season when he started to hit on his own team. That's never a good thing despite what your tension is. So I think Alonso is consistent and very fast when things with the car and team is good... now he is going to MC and as double champ, he has to come real quick down to the earth and be a "normal" driver! Otherwise there is som big trouble for him! Again, this is my oppinion! Massa, he is hitting the jackpot at the moment, superb speed and racing in the end of the season!! I like him! Kimi is gonna have a tough time with Massa and thats good, dont think they will take points from eachother that much that it would have effect on the championship! On driver that I'm gonna have a eye on is Lewis! I hope for his best that there will not be a steep uphill in his first season in F1, that could destroy him for good, I think he is a very fast and tallent driver, wish him the best in rookie season!!

Julian Mayo wrote:

TheFinn wrote:

gkaytaz wrote:Finn, we talked about Finns a bit. Now lemme ask you another question: how do you rate Alonso and Massa? You think Alonso will be as strong in the McL as he was in the Renault? And the Ferrari team: Massa-Kimi seems to be a good combo but they may steal each other's championship points. What's your take on that?

Of course that is a question directed to all

Both Alonso and Massa I rate high as well. Both drivers are very tallent, and when you look at that kind of high tallented drivers you have to searh for small details to make some small difference in them. I allways rated Alonso high but I also tought that he has a very strong head! He proved me wrong in the end of this season when he started to hit on his own team. That's never a good thing despite what your tension is. So I think Alonso is consistent and very fast when things with the car and team is good... now he is going to MC and as double champ, he has to come real quick down to the earth and be a "normal" driver! Otherwise there is som big trouble for him! Again, this is my oppinion! Massa, he is hitting the jackpot at the moment, superb speed and racing in the end of the season!! I like him! Kimi is gonna have a tough time with Massa and thats good, dont think they will take points from eachother that much that it would have effect on the championship! On driver that I'm gonna have a eye on is Lewis! I hope for his best that there will not be a steep uphill in his first season in F1, that could destroy him for good, I think he is a very fast and tallent driver, wish him the best in rookie season!!

There is a young finnish fella who just took out a World Championship who, I believe could be the fastest F1 Driver ever If he stays alive long enough

TheFinn wrote:

Julian Mayo wrote:

TheFinn wrote:
Both Alonso and Massa I rate high as well. Both drivers are very tallent, and when you look at that kind of high tallented drivers you have to searh for small details to make some small difference in them. I allways rated Alonso high but I also tought that he has a very strong head! He proved me wrong in the end of this season when he started to hit on his own team. That's never a good thing despite what your tension is. So I think Alonso is consistent and very fast when things with the car and team is good... now he is going to MC and as double champ, he has to come real quick down to the earth and be a "normal" driver! Otherwise there is som big trouble for him! Again, this is my oppinion! Massa, he is hitting the jackpot at the moment, superb speed and racing in the end of the season!! I like him! Kimi is gonna have a tough time with Massa and thats good, dont think they will take points from eachother that much that it would have effect on the championship! On driver that I'm gonna have a eye on is Lewis! I hope for his best that there will not be a steep uphill in his first season in F1, that could destroy him for good, I think he is a very fast and tallent driver, wish him the best in rookie season!!

There is a young finnish fella who just took out a World Championship who, I believe could be the fastest F1 Driver ever If he stays alive long enough

I'm laughin here... sorry JM but I have some trouble time to time to understand what you mean??

Julian Mayo wrote:

TheFinn wrote:

Julian Mayo wrote:
There is a young finnish fella who just took out a World Championship who, I believe could be the fastest F1 Driver ever If he stays alive long enough

I'm laughin here... sorry JM but I have some trouble time to time to understand what you mean??

you n me both Bro

Julian Mayo wrote:Using simple words, a young finnish driver just became WC in his class, even tho he DNFed half the season

TheFinn wrote:

Julian Mayo wrote:Using simple words, a young finnish driver just became WC in his class, even tho he DNFed half the season

...ok!