1999 Mika Hakkinen
Model produced by: Paul’s Model Art (Minichamps)
Year: 1999
Driver: Mika Häkkinen (Finland)
Team: McLaren Mercedes
Car: McLaren MP4-14
Results: 5 wins, 10 podiums, 11 poles, 6 fastest laps
Mika Häkkinen’s title defence in 1999 was tougher than the previous year. With the McLaren not as reliable as the previous year, he lost out on a number of points early in the season, but by the time of Schumacher’s leg-breaking crash at Silverstone, he had overtaken the German in the standings. Eddie Irvine now took on the mantle of Ferrari team leader and through reliability problems with the McLaren, and mistakes from Häkkinen, took the title battle down to the last race, again in Japan. Häkkinen had made several major errors at Imola and Monza, both times crashing out whilst in a strong lead, and some questioned whether he could handle the pressure of a title decider once more. In fact, the normally cool and composed Finn was overwhelmed by his error at Monza and broke down crying in front of the cameras after running away from his car to hide during the race. Come Japan however, he was back on top form and romped to a victory that secured him a second world championship, almost an entire lap ahead of title rival Irvine with Schumacher a close second. Ferrari won the constructors’ championship for the first time since 1983.
(Source: Wikipedia)
See another great overtaking manouver by Hakkinen over Schumacher, although it’s from 2000 season …
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