Mika Häkkinen Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Mika Häkkinen
Häkkinen in 2016
Born	Mika Pauli Häkkinen (1968-09-28) 28 September 1968 (age 56) Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland
Spouse(s)	Erja Honkanen (m. 1998; div. 2008) Markéta Remešová (m. 2016)
Children	5

Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Finnish
Active years	1991–2001
Teams	Lotus, McLaren
Entries	165 (161 starts)
Championships	2 (1998, 1999)
Wins	20
Podiums	51
Career points	420
Pole positions	26
Fastest laps	25
First entry	1991 United States Grand Prix
First win	1997 European Grand Prix
Last win	2001 United States Grand Prix
Last entry	2001 Japanese Grand Prix

Mika Pauli Häkkinen (born 28 September 1968) is a famous former racing driver from Finland. He is best known for racing in Formula One from 1991 to 2001. Because of his incredible speed, he earned the nickname "the Flying Finn."

Häkkinen became a two-time Formula One World Champion, winning the title in 1998 and 1999 with the McLaren team. Over his 11 seasons in the sport, he won 20 races, called Grands Prix. After retiring from Formula One, he continued to race in other series and now works in driver management and as a brand ambassador.

Early Life and Start in Racing
Formula One Career
- Team Lotus (1991–1992)
- McLaren (1993–2001)
Life After Formula One
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Start in Racing

A replica of the Ralt RT34 car Häkkinen drove in 1990.

Mika Häkkinen was born in Vantaa, Finland. His father, Harri, was a radio operator and taxi driver, and his mother, Aila, was a secretary. As a child, he lived on the same street as another future racing driver, Mika Salo, and they became good friends.

Häkkinen's racing journey began when he was just five years old. His parents rented a go-kart for him, and even though he had a small crash, he loved it so much that he wanted to keep racing. His father then bought him his first go-kart. He quickly showed a natural talent, winning his first race in 1975.

From 1978 to 1986, Häkkinen won many karting championships in Finland and other Nordic countries. His success in karting helped him move up to racing cars. In 1987, he started racing in Formula Ford and won the Finnish, Swedish, and Nordic championships in his very first year.

He continued to climb the racing ladder, moving to the British Formula 3 Championship. In 1990, he joined the top team, West Surrey Racing, and won the championship. This victory caught the attention of big names in Formula One, including McLaren team boss Ron Dennis.

Formula One Career

Team Lotus (1991–1992)

Häkkinen at his first Formula One race for Lotus in 1991.

In 1991, Häkkinen made his Formula One debut with the Lotus team. Formula One is the highest level of single-seater car racing in the world. His first race was the 1991 United States Grand Prix. In his first season, he scored his first points with a fifth-place finish at the San Marino Grand Prix.

He stayed with Lotus for the 1992 season, where he continued to show his skill by scoring points in several races. However, the Lotus team was not one of the top teams at the time, and Häkkinen knew he needed to move to a more competitive team to fight for wins.

McLaren (1993–2001)

Häkkinen at the 1992 British Grand Prix.

In 1993, Häkkinen joined the famous McLaren team, first as a test driver. He got his chance to race in the last three races of the season, replacing Michael Andretti. In his second race for McLaren, the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix, he finished third, earning his very first podium finish. A podium finish means finishing in the top three.

Building Towards Success (1994–1997)

Häkkinen driving for McLaren at the 1994 British Grand Prix.

From 1994 to 1997, Häkkinen became a key driver for McLaren. He scored many podium finishes but struggled to get his first win. The cars were not always reliable, and he had to retire from several races.

In 1995, at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, Häkkinen had a very serious crash during a practice session. He was badly injured, and his life was saved by the quick actions of the trackside medical team. He made a remarkable recovery and was back racing for the start of the 1996 season. This showed his incredible determination.

After years of trying, Häkkinen finally won his first Formula One race at the 1997 European Grand Prix. It was the last race of the 1997 season and a huge moment in his career.

World Champion (1998–1999)

Häkkinen on his way to victory at the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix.

The 1998 season was a turning point for Häkkinen and McLaren. The team built a fantastic car, the MP4/13, and Häkkinen was ready to fight for the championship. He had a famous rivalry with Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher. They battled all season, but Häkkinen won eight races and secured his first World Championship at the final race in Japan.

In 1999, he proved his championship was no fluke. He had another strong season, winning five races. This time, his main rival was Schumacher's teammate, Eddie Irvine, after Schumacher was injured mid-season. Häkkinen won his second World Championship in a row, again at the final race in Japan.

Final Seasons in F1 (2000–2001)

Häkkinen at the 2000 United States Grand Prix.

In 2000, Häkkinen continued to fight at the front, winning four races. One of his most famous moments was an amazing overtake on Michael Schumacher at the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix. However, Schumacher won the championship that year, with Häkkinen finishing as the runner-up.

The 2001 season was his last in Formula One. He won two more races, including his final victory at the 2001 United States Grand Prix. At the end of the season, he announced he was taking a break from racing to spend more time with his family. This break later became a full retirement from Formula One.

Life After Formula One

Häkkinen racing in the DTM series in 2006.

Häkkinen didn't stay away from the racetrack for long. From 2005 to 2007, he competed in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), a popular German touring car racing series. He raced for Mercedes-Benz and won three races during his time in DTM.

He officially retired from competitive racing in 2007. Since then, he has worked in driver management, helping young drivers with their careers. He is also a brand ambassador for companies like Mercedes-Benz and Johnnie Walker, where he promotes responsible drinking.

In 2022, Häkkinen became a commentator and expert analyst for the Viaplay television network, sharing his knowledge of Formula One with viewers.

Personal Life

Häkkinen has lived in Monaco since 1991. He has five children. He is known for being calm and quiet, but also for his fierce competitive spirit on the track. Many people, including his great rival Michael Schumacher, consider him one of the best drivers in the history of Formula One.