Will Häkkinen and Schumacher drive for the Silver arrows?

I have to admit that this could be an attractive title page of a tabloid newspaper article, with the guarantee, that this issue will be a big hit, while at the same time making the gossip factory working overtime. But the track is clear for the above-mentioned title to turn into reality.

After the return of 7 times Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher to the Formula 1 grid back in 2010, driving for the Mercedes GP team, and swiftly proving that he will definitely make it back to the podium and that he is fit enough and mentally ready for the grueling demands of the sport, another Formula 1 legend has decided to return to the motorsport racing circuit.

Former double Formula 1 World Champion Mika H?¤kkinen will be making his return to racing with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, where he will compete in the International Le Mans Cup race in China this upcoming Sunday.

The International Le Mans Cup will be holding its last event of the season in Zhuhai, China, a six-hour race where Mika H?¤kkinen will be sharing driving duty with two other drivers.

Going almost 20 years back, and specifically to the year 1993, McLaren boss Ron Dennis signed Mika
H?¤kkinen for testing duties and to serve as standby to Ayrton Senna and Michael Andretti. When the latter left Formula One racing with three races of the season remaining, Mika became Senna's team mate, famously out-qualifying him on his debut, in Portugal. Ayrton Senna's move to Williams for 1994, made Mika number one at McLaren but he still had some flaws. At the Hockenheim Grand Prix, he was found guilty of triggering a ten-car crash on the first lap of the race and therefore received a one-race ban.

The worst accident of his career was not a result of a driving mistake but had nearly a lethal outcome. His promising 1995 season, where he finished seven times on the podium, ended disastrously in Adelaide. In practice some debris punctured a tire thus sending his McLaren into a wall resulting in a horrendous crash. Rescue crews rushed to his aid and found Mika critically injured, bleeding profusely from the mouth and turning blue due to the lack of oxygen. Doctors, led by FIA medical delegate Professor Sid Watkins, performed an emergency tracheotomy at the accident site, making an incision in his throat and inserting a tube so he could breathe, before transporting him to hospital where his life was threatened for quite some time.

Slowly but surely Mika started to recover and even joked back then, that he slept more than his pet tortoise Caroline. He gradually recovered from all his injuries, except for a hearing impediment that contributed to a slightly slower way of speaking. He was unsure about being able to resume his racing life after that experience. And there was only one way to know it. "You can only get over your fears if you attack them head on," he said. "So I had to go driving again flat out." Early in 1996, and during a private test arranged by McLaren, he was immediately as quick as he was before.

The rivalry between the two titans, namely Michael Schumacher driving for the Scuderia Ferrari at that time and McLaren Mercedes driven by Mika H?¤kkinen witnessed numerous grand duels and emotional moments.

The Circuit of Spa witnessed back in 1993 the first Formula 1 victory of Michael Schumacher when he was driving for the Benetton team. Various victories and a lot of memories along the Eau Rouge formed a magic bond between Michael Schumacher and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

But on the 27th of August 2000 the Belgian GP served as the perfect location for the most sensational pass in Formula 1 history, as a lot of Formula 1 critics regard it. Double world champion Mika H?¤kkinen, who was eager to score a hat –trick of F1 world championship crowns performed the most spectacular overtaking maneuver. After sliding off the track and handing Michael Schumacher a temporarily lead he dived at the inside of both the overlapped Ricardo Zonta and leading Michael Schumacher at the end of the Kemmel straight and shortly before Les Combes to recapture the front. It was said the Ferrari was approximately 10 km /h slower than the McLaren Mercedes.

The onboard cameras in Ricardo Zonta’s BAR and Mika H?¤kkinen's McLaren Mercedes in addition to the pictures taken portray how hard and merciless the epic duel between the two title contenders was a few laps before crossing the finishing line.

Another perspective of the classic duel between the two arch rivals could be seen at the Italian Grand Prix back in 2000.

As a matter of fact, the Italian GP held on the 10th of September 2000 is regarded by many as the most tragic and accident rich race until now. Six cars retried during the first lap, but that was not the end of the tragedy wheel. The flying part of Jarno Trulli’s Jordon struck fire marshal Paolo Ghislimberti in the chest. He was given a heart massage near the track, but he died later, becoming the first death in Formula 1 since Ayrton Senna’s fatal accident at the San Marino GP held in Imola back in 1994.

The immense pressure of fighting for the world title, the tragic accidents, and the death of the fire marshal Paolo Ghislimberti affected all drives psychologically. It must be mentioned here, that the post-race press conference showed the unexpected emotional and human warm side of the racing machine Michael Schumacher in front of millions of worldwide television audience.

Schumacher broke into tears when asked about his feeling on tying Ayrton Senna’s record of 41 grand prix victories. He didn’t answer another question as he endeavored to regain composure and control over the rush of mixed emotions and feelings.

Mika H?¤kkinen was almost speechless and tried sincerely to comfort and support Schumi during the post-race press conference by shifting the questions to third place winner Ralf Schumacher.

After winning two Formula 1 World Championships in 1998 and 1999, 165 Grand Prix entries, 20 Grand Prix wins, and 26 pole positions, Mika H?¤kkinen announced back at the end of 2001, and during his ninth year with McLaren, that he was going to take a sabbatical year to spend more time with his family. In fact, he never came back to Formula One racing, where the likeable flying Finn who drove flat out will be missed.

One question remains unanswered, and we at Autoarabia are sure that large number of Formula 1 enthusiasts, motorsport fans, and marketing strategist are asking themselves the same question, after seeing Mika H?¤kkinen driving again for Mercedes Benz, with Michael Schumacher also driving for the same brand:

Will we witness the day, where the former arch rivals Michael Schumacher and Mika H?¤kkinen, will race side by side for the same team or at least will work together on developing the same racing car?
Let’s wait and see. We are sure that it is worth waiting, and will put the motorsport world up-side down.

AE
13.11.2011