Soccer predictions Mika Hakkinen on debut for McLaren: Senna realized that if I started kicking his ass, he would look ridiculous
Blog of soccer stats
Two-time F-1 champion Mika Hakkinen spoke about Ayrton Senna`s reaction to the Finn`s first race for McLaren.
Hakkinen became Senna`s teammate at the end of the 1993 season at the Portuguese Grand Prix. He qualified third, above Ayrton, but retired from the race due to a wall collision.
It was a mega result. The MP4 / 8 had a special brake system - it allowed the brakes to be adjusted right on the race track. Reinforced brakes, power steering, active suspension - we had it all. I knew that car very well. I knew that I could drive it to the limit, and did not believe that someone could be faster.
Ayrton understood that there are other fast pilots. But when I came in and kicked his ass on his first race weekend, he wanted to know what I was doing.
Being a three-time champion, he was already very mature and confident, so he asked me: Mika, what did you do? And I said: Ayrton, these are eggs. He became furious and very upset because of my words.
I was in shock, I tried to explain to him that this was just a joke and that I really respect him for everything he has achieved. But I also tried to make it clear that we need some humor.
It was a very difficult moment for him. People asked him: Who is this Finn? What happened to Ayrton? An interesting situation for him - he realized that now there was a threat in the team and if I started kicking his ass, then he would look ridiculous. After that he won both races in Japan and Australia - I was with him on the podium in Japan.
His engineers began to work hard. They knew I was a threat and they didn`t give a damn about me. They didn`t share anything with me and didn`t tell me anything, " Hakkinen recalled.
Mika Hakkinen on debut for McLaren: Senna realized that if I started kicking his ass, he would look ridiculous Soccer predictions - more details and information: Soccer predictions
Blog of soccer stats