“When I was young I didn’t get the big picture, I just wanted to drive the car,” he told Hunt’s son Freddie in 2019.
“One of the most important things that sticks in my mind is that he said ‘Mika have fun, enjoy what you do.’ It was only a few years later I understood what he meant – working with the team, the designers, the engineers, the wider picture. Enjoying it.”
Häkkinen’s laid-back approach was in contrast to his blinding speed, immediately on show when he made his world championship debut for Lotus in 1991.
Though the once-great team was now struggling, the young Finn wrestled the 102B to fifth at the San Marino GP – just his third race.
An impressive ’92, with six points finishes, would lead to a McLaren testing role in ’93 – fatefully morphing into a race seat after Michael Andretti departed.
“Ron [Dennis] said to me, ‘Are you the best?’ I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ He said, ‘Will you win races?’ I said, ‘Yes, I will.’ We didn’t talk long.”
Häkkinen’s first race for McLaren was at Estoril, sensationally out-qualifying team-mate Ayrton Senna on his debut.
“He couldn’t understand it,” said Häkkinen. “Same tyres, same fuel level, same engine, same aero, everything the same. He was so angry. I was in the press conference, he wasn’t.
“All the media were excited, but I didn’t say much. Afterwards Keke Rosberg, who was my manager then, said, ‘Why were you so quiet? You had a great opportunity to show everybody who you are.’ But I said, ‘No point waving my arms around. It was only qualifying.'”