Sebastian Vettel more confident this year, says former McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen: Formula 1 News
The former McLaren driver and twice Formula 1 champion, Mika Hakkinen, believes that winning a title has done a lot good to the confidence of Red Bull’s driver Sebastian Vettel. The young German has been impressive at the start of the 2011 season, winning
the opening two races in Australia and Malaysia. He also had a strong result in the Chinese Grand Prix, finishing second in the race.
Hakkinen stated, “Of course the world championship gives you confidence. You know you have done it. You've won a title. It's no longer a weight on your shoulders. So now you can focus on the details. Then it becomes very enjoyable, you start calculating
a little bit, it is really good fun.”
The Finn further added, “Other guys are suspecting and wondering how, but you know exactly how it works. That allows your pressure level, what you can take in terms of pressure, to be much higher than others. Because you understand things that other people
have yet to experience.”
The 42-year-old claimed that things were different in his time, when he won two consecutive titles in 1998 and 99. The teams had to do a lot of off-season testing and it was physically demanding for a title winner, who was required to do both marketing and
racing. However, there is no off-season testing in Formula 1 these days, which allows the drivers to do some promotional stuff easily.
Hakkinen’s fierce rival Michael Schumacher returned to the sport after a three year gap, but the Finn was not interested in doing so. He admitted that it would not be possible for him to compete against the youngsters, as Formula 1 is a physically demanding
sport.
However, the former champion rated Schumacher’s decision to come out of retirement, as brave. Remembering some past competitions with the German, Hakkinen stated that it was really tough to beat the seven-time champion, who always came hard at his competitors.
Things don’t appear to be the same now for Schumacher though, as he has found it hard to match the pace of his team-mate Nico Rosberg. Both drivers have been racing for Mercedes since the return of the veteran driver in 2010, but the German giants have been
unable to provide them with a race winning car.
Rosberg scored almost double, the points scored by his team-mate in the previous season and has qualified better than Schumacher, in the first three races of the ongoing season.
One of the major reasons behind the poor form of the veteran driver has been some technical issues with the rear wing of his car. Mercedes’ team principal Ross Brawn has claimed that an upgraded wing will be brought in the upcoming Turkish GP, which will
take place on Sunday, May 8. This might put an end to the worries of Schumacher, who will be looking for an improved show in the remaining part of the season.
Tags: