Video: Häkkinen qualifying masterclass at Imola

12th August 2024

Ethan Jupp

It’s easy to sound like a bit of a rose-tinted-spectacle-wearing old crank when looking back and swooning at old F1. Everyone in every era had their complaints when it was contemporary and people seem to forget that when looking back. There are some moments, though, that are just all-time greats. Not because the cars sounded better. Not because the cars looked better. But because the driving was simply sublime, and that’s something that stands out whether you’re watching a turbo hybrid, or a V12 screamer.

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