Mika Häkkinen is another returnee to the Formula 1 category of the Hall of Fame. He’s joined by 11 other nominations who you can find out about on the F1 podcast with Karun Chandhok, Mark Hughes and myself here.
The quiet, self-deprecating Finn had to wait 98 Grands Prix and spend seven years in Formula 1 before he got his first win in the 1997 European Grand Prix. He also had to endure a crash that nearly spelled the end of his racing career as well as his life.
However, his speed and self-belief was never in doubt and a valve was opened that day in Jerez – over the next two years he would win 13 of the 32 Grands Prix and secure his two world championships.
The pass he made on Michael Schumacher at the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix is enough to cement his place amongst the greats. On that note, he was the driver Schumacher regarded as his greatest rival. Not a bad seal of approval that.
Nationality: Finnish
Teams: Lotus, McLaren
Grands Prix starts: 161
World Championships: 2
Wins: 20
Podiums: 51
Content from the Archive
Both Ferrari and Mercedes are ringing the technical changes in a bid to catch Red Bull – but they've already spent too long going in the wrong direction, writes Mark Hughes
Three of Formula 1's greatest-ever drivers shared a podium only once — at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix. In the middle of a season of varying fortunes, there was little camaraderie between Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, writes Damien Smith
What may be the most hated corner in F1 is no more: the final Barcelona chicane has been axed from GP racing. Now we suggest six more turns that should go the same way
Max Verstappen's 2023 Monaco GP win was a triumph of performance, tyre management and strategy — in stark contrast to Ayrton Senna's experience 35 years earlier, writes Mark Hughes:"there was a time when the driver could largely do whatever the hell he wanted"