Full Name: Mika Pauli Häkkinen
Nicknames: The Flying Finn, Iceman and Häkä (in Finland)
Nationality: Finnish
Date and place of birth: 28.9.1968, Helsinki, Finland
Height: 179cm
Weight: 70kg
Resident: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Family: Father Harri Häkkinen
mother Aila Häkkinen
sister Nina Häkkinen
Maritial status: Married to Erja Häkkinen
Manager: Keijo "Keke" Rosberg (F1 World Champion 1982)
Helmet design:
"I chose the design of my helmet when I was karting. I drove for the Blue Rose team and I really adored the colours they raced with. The basic design included the Finnish national colours, and I thought that was neat. I was in the same team as Mika Sohlberg (rally driver) and Sebastian Lindholm (rally driver), who went for very similar designs to my own."
Mika began karting when he was only six years old
Mika's first go-kart was bought from the famous Finnish rally driver Henri Toivonen.
Mika managed to get an F1 contract without driving F3000. He drove his first race at Team Lotus (USA, Phoenix 1991).
After driving two years at Lotus, Mika's manager, Keke Rosberg, was able to sign Mika as a test driver for McLaren (1993).
Michael Andretti, who was driving for McLaren was fired when there was still 3 races to go. McLaren gave their young test driver a change and Mika impressed them. At his first race he outqualified his team mate Ayrton Senna!
Since then Mika has been driving for McLaren. He has now won two World Championships (1998-1999).
Christopher Hilton has written a book about Mika Häkkinen. It is called "Doing What Comes Naturally" and we highly recommend it.
There is a song made about Mika Häkkinen. There are two versions of the song, the Finnish one is called 'Häkkisen Mika' and the English one is called 'Mika Hakkinen'. You can order the CD-single from the Official Mika Häkkinen Fan Club. Their e-mail address is: official.fanclub@mikahakkinen.net
Finnish post office have released (15th January 1999) a stamp featuring a smiling Häkkinen.
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