Abu Dhabi: Mika Hakkinen believes whoever wins the world title at next weekend’s Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix should be acclaimed as the best driver.
Championship leader Nico Rosberg is 12 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton heading into the season-ending race at Yas Marina Circuit.
But Hamilton, who has three world crowns to Rosberg’s none, is widely regarded to be the faster driver, and won the last Abu Dhabi GP title decider between the pair in 2014.
The two-time world champion Hakkinen, however, diplomatically avoided dispensing his view on the subject during a visit to Abu Dhabi this week.
“First of all, I won my world championships with McLaren Mercedes,” the 48-year-old said of his 1998 and 1999 triumphs in an interview with Gulf News at Emirates Palace hotel. “I’m happy first of all if the Mercedes wins. I’ve been a brand ambassador for them for many years.
“I have seen the great success. The whole team has been part of this success – the engineers, mechanics, drivers. I always felt the best will to win and this story will happen soon again in Abu Dhabi, so we will have to wait.”
“Who do I think is the best?” Hakkinen replied, laughing, when further probed on the issue.
“Well, I achieved twice world championships myself, so I was sure I was the best driver out there and I think this is going to happen again. Is it Nico or Lewis?”
Would he like to see a title-deciding collision between the pair, in the same vein as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost twice in 1989 and 1990.
“That’s a good question,” added Hakkinen.
“There has to be people who like to see that. But we don’t want that, of course. No, definitely not. I want pure racing, absolutely.”
Hakkinen believes the fact the Abu Dhabi will host another title finale as it did in 2010 and 2014 is “amazing” and “motivating for everybody”.
“It brings Formula One in a position again where this is great showbusiness.”
