Mika Hakkinen has had a slow rise up the F1 ladder. His F1 career began back in 1991 with the Lotus team where the Finn spent two seasons with the struggling outfit managing a respectable seven points finishes. He then left Lotus to take the test seat for McLaren for much of the 1993 season but got his big break when he replaced the under-performing Michael Andretti with three races remaining. He took his chance with relish, qualifying third on two occasions and sixth on the other, grabbing a third place at Suzuka.
Despite the promising start to his career, his development at the top level was hindered as the once dominant McLaren team struggled in 1994 and 1995 with an unreliable car. However, despite these problems Hakkinen showed he had the ability. In 1995 his racing career was very nearly cut short following horrific crash in practice for the final race of the 1995 season left him with serious injuries. Thankfully he made a speedy recovery and in his comeback race, at the start of the 1996 season, he managed a 5th place. Once again, however, it was a frustrating time as over the next two seasons he was unable to break his long overdue GP duck. He finally did so in the final race of 1997 in Jerez, thanks to team orders and a very obliging Jacques Villeneuve.
In 1998, Hakkinen, now in his fifth year with the McLaren team, was rewarded with the 1998 Driver's Championship as McLaren, and their popular Finnish driver, dominated the season with Hakkinen winning a total of eight races.
In '99 the McLaren was again dominant, but Hakkinen made hard work of securing his second title. Despite some moments of inspired genius, there were also moments of madness - such as Imola and Monza. For 2000, Hakkinen continues with McLaren as he attempts to become the first driver since Fangio to win three successive titles.