Home » Sport » The darkest moment in Häkkinen’s career

The darkest moment in Häkkinen’s career

The career of Mika Hakkinen in Formula 1 was marked by two World Champion titles, 20 Grand Prix victories, 26 pole positions and 25 fastest laps in the race. But the flying Finn achieved all these successes after having lived on November 10, 1995 a dark day, where he almost died.

Häkkinen was competing in Friday’s qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix when the left rear tire of his McLaren-Mercedes deflated as it approached Brewery Bend, the fastest corner on this road circuit. He struck the tire wall at an estimated speed of over 190 km / h and, in the impact, his helmet struck the side of the cockpit, causing him to fracture his skull. The medical team present on the edge of the runway had to perform an emergency tracheostomy before transporting him to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, in a coma.

In the movie, the pilot explains to his colleagues – Felipe Massa, Tom Kristensen and Michèle Mouton – what happened that day and the difficulties he had to face thereafter.

Also read:

“My accident in 95 was a hell of a thing”, he says. “It happened in Australia, in Adelaide. I was going at full speed on a long straight and when I entered a bend, the rear tire… it did not explode, it just deflated very quickly. The chassis hit the ground and I lost control. There was a huge buzzer at the exit, I hit it, the car bounced several times in the air, and hit the side barrier. “

“I was in a coma for a few days. It was after that it was horrible. Because when you wake up, you realize, ‘Oh, my God!’… The shock was so strong that my face was paralyzed. The nerves were damaged. When I slept, they had to blindfold me, so that they remain closed “, he continues. “Then they started to test to see if my sense of smell was normal, if I hadn’t lost my taste, if I could walk. I think I stayed there for five weeks. My girlfriend is come to Australia to support me. ”

Michèle Mouton, Tom Kristensen, Mika Häkkinen and Felipe Massa in the movie Heroes

In an interview he recently gave to GP Racing magazine, Mika Häkkinen was asked if he thought the accident had slowed him down. “No, I don’t think I would have been faster, but I think I would have continued my career longer”, he replied.

“It had an effect on me. It made me realize that when an accident like this happens – and it can happen at any time in F1 because motorsport is dangerous … It made me say , as soon as I won my titles, ‘Hmm … Don’t push your luck anymore. “

See as well :

Heroes is available on Motorsport.tv. Written and directed by Manish Pandey, already director of the film Senna, several times awarded, this 1.5 hour feature film brings together the stories of our Heroes of motorsport, whose stories are illustrated by archive footage.

Watch the entire film by subscribing to Motorsport.tv from € 4.50 per month or by renting it on VOD at a price of € 6.50 for 48 hours.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.