Double champion Mika Hakkinen is one of only seven men to have won back to back championships in Formula1 history, and he has proclaimed his desire to take a third title in 2000. 1999 should have been an easy victory for the Finn, after main rival Michael Schumacher was knocked out of contention by breaking his leg in an accident at the British Grand Prix. Instead a series of laughable errors from his team, and his infamous spin out of the Italian Grand Prix whilst leading, allowed Ferrari's Eddie Irvine to take the title to the final race in Japan. Hakkinen coolly resisted all pressure to magnificently win at Suzuka, but admitted to being 'burnt out' by the season's end.
This is his eighth season with McLaren and he has a strong bond with team boss Ron Dennis, especially after his fight back from a life-threatening accident in the 1995 Australian Grand Prix. He only took his first win, at Jerez, in 1997 but his progression from race winner to World Champion has been swift. He is renowned for his cool head and sporting behaviour, although this did temporarily desert him when team mate David Coulthard bullied past to win Spa last season.


1999 Wins the World Championship for a second time with 5 wins and 76 points.
 
1998 Wins drivers title with eight race wins, three other podium finishes and 100 championship points.
 
1997 Wins his first race in the European Grand Prix and finishes sixth in the Drivers' Championship with three podium finishes in the bag.
 
1996 Finishes third in Britain, Belgium, Italy and Japan to come fifth overall
 
1995 Finishes second in Italy and Japan. Season is marred by a bad smash in qualifying at the Australian GP.
 
1994 One second place and five thirds win him 4th place overall.
 
1993 After being hired as a test driver, he makes his debut for McLaren and races in the last three GPs of the season, finishing third in Japan.
 
1992 Finishes 8th with eleven points in his second season with Lotus
 
1991 Makes his Grand Prix debut in the USA with Lotus, finishing 15th overall
 
1990 British Formula 3 Champion with West Surrey Racing
 
1989 British Formula 3 Championship: Finished 7th
 
1988 Opel Lotus Euroseries Champion, British GM Lotus Series runner-up
 
1987 Wins the Finnish, Swedish and Nordic Formula Ford 1600 titles.