That’s what we’re enjoying in today’s video. For today, we bow in reverence to Mika Häkkinen, arguably at the peak of his powers, showing Michael Schumacher and Ferrari a clean pair of heels (albeit with only 0.091 seconds to spare) in qualifying at Imola in 2000.
Formula 1 drivers are quicker than all of us all of the time, but when it comes time to trying to beat each other over a single glorious lap, some can just tap into something otherworldly, almost supernatural, almost certainly superhuman, to push the machine right to the edge. That’s exactly where Häkkinen took his McLaren-Mercedes MP4/15 to beat Schumacher to pole, almost, for a moment there, losing the car on the way onto the start/finish straight, slithering into a left-hand-down slide, before spitting right. Häkkinen controls the car, keeps it pinned and straightens it out, like it’s just another day at the office. What a demonstration.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: The greatest rally stage on Earth
Main image courtesy of Motorsport Images
McLaren
Mika Häkkinen
Formula 1
F1 2000
Video
Elevenses
Imola