NewsOnF1 - Shut up and drive

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Its nice to see someone supporting my belief that Barrichello can't keep blaming his car, he has to drive with what he has got. (reference - Hakkinen revived – Schumacher in trouble)

You suggest that Mika (Hakkinen) is pedestrian if his car is not perfect. While I probably agree with that comment for much of this year I would have to question the real source Mika's "problems" this season. He has driven brilliantly with a less than perfect car in previous seasons and I suspect that his issues this year have been internal (motivation perhaps?). He drove perfectly at Speilberg, despite a few lapses of attention to team orders, and if he is rejuvenated he will be a real threat to Ferrari (and David).

I firmly believe that Mika can be a faster driver than David and the biggest threat to a McLaren Driver's Championship this year is the closeness of the points between Mika and David. If they get a couple of 1-2 finishes neither will advance far enough beyond the other for team orders to prevail. Michael could well win this championship because of the dilution of team points between two title challengers from McLaren.

Geoff H - Australia

The Heretic replies:

It may not be a case of Hakkinen not being able to drive if his car is not absolutely perfect but it is the only explanation I can come up with short of suggesting that he has an emotional problem.

He has admitted several times in the past that "it is very hard" but unfortunately his command of English is not good enough to pick up any emotional nuances. It is hard enough to understand what he is saying (not a criticism, I am sure his Finnish is better than my English). He did burst into tears when he selected the wrong gear while in the lead, but in his place I would have been suicidal - crying is already a sign of strength.

I suspect that there are some aspects of the balance of his car that he can't cope with (and as you rightly point out there are other shortcomings in the car that he copes with well) and when that happens his motivation goes downhill.

When he is good he is very good and just a smidgen faster than Coulthard. Coulthard on the other hand has a lot more determination this season.

And I absolutely agree: McLaren could shoot themselves in the foot by being so liberal.

On you other comments:

Yes. Barrchello should shut up and drive the wheels off what he gets.

The Heretic