Oh dear, Mika might quit because he doesn't agree with the rules:


Previous F1-champion and DTM-star Mika Häkkinen could be on the way out from the championship for next year. The Finn is reported to be very disappointed with the past season. Häkkinen says that if he is going to continue in Germany, the rules need to change.
"Yes, that is correct. We still have not taken any decision for 2008. At the moment I am not very motivated for the championship", said Häkkinen to Motorsport-Total.com.

Häkkinen had a hard ride in the DTM 2007. At Barcelona he was penalized hard after his incident with Martin Tomczyk where he crashed in to the Audi-driver with locked tyres.
"I am disappointed. I braked late and could not do anything else. At other times drivers have crashed in to me. It is something else when you lock your wheels and glide in to someone from behind," said Häkkinen to Motorsport-Total.com.

For that he got fined with 20.000 € and got moved back 10 places in the following qualifying. And after his victory at the chaotic race at Lausitzring he only got half the points.
"It was the same there. I delivered a good job and then that happens. That cooks the emotion high and you loose faith and motivation," Häkkinen said.
"It has been many years now with discussion of changes in the rules."

Source: http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=1552

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TBH it doesn't really surprise me this news as I feel he hasn't been motivated at all during the last few races of the season and his performance at Hockenheim in the final round just went to show this. I'm sure Mercedes won't be that bothered either as Di Resta will make the step up and prove an able replacement imo.

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

Yeah agreed, I think Norbert Haug secretly loves having Mika in DTM, as a marketing tool - the double F1 champion.

I actually think this year has been Mika's best in the DTM, 2 wins and two pole positions. However, he badly needs consistency. He always seems to get himself in crashes. The Spain penalty was very harsh though, I think.

Like you say, Di Reata will blow the doors off Mika I'm affraid. He got more points than him in a 2005 car!

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I think Mercedes will be disappointed, but not surprised, if he goes, but Paul Di Resta needs an 08 car though, so they wont need to run as many.
Cant really blame him for feeling disheartened after his fine (not gonna cause any hardship for him, but he probably feels the stewards didnt apply that sort of penalty to other drivers for similar errors) and being moved 10 places back, but a more motivated driver would still have qualified on pole and taken the 10 place drop on the chin.

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In the Daily Telegraph, Kevin Garside made the well-received point that even if Mosley had criticised JYS's comedy music hall trousers, at least they remained round his waist, not his ankles...

Yep Mika certainly did start the season well but it tailed off into nothing much more than a whimper, and although the penalty in Spain was harsh, I feel he is using that as an excuse to cover up his lack of motivation. I would imagine he might go on to something like the Speedcar Series if he leaves, which looks highly likely imo.

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

I think Mika is perhaps using the Spain penalty to cover up his lack of motivation, because he doesn't seem to have the will to fight through the field anymore.

At Hockenheim, he could only manage 17th despite having the fastest car on the say, somebody like Spengler would have got into the points by fighting through the field.

Also, his 2007 Merc drivers are clearly faster than him. Spengler, Schnieder and Green all run rings around Mika - so he must feel hard done by.

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Time for retirement then I feel

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

Yes, it's just the right time for Mika.

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I saw him in the last interviews. He didn't look motivated. I don't think that he will drive in DTM next year.

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

Not surprised, his fellow DTM Merc drivers are much faster than him and much more consistent.

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If this is true (sadly ) then Mika deserves a huge Thank You from the fans.
When he had a good day, he was easily the fastest man out there. He adapted very well to the car, scoring his first podium in his second race and his first win in his third
He also contributed to Mercedes's championship victories in 2005 and 2006.
Yes he lacked motivation recently, but I can understand that. The whole season was a bit unfair. Not just Audi, but the stewards were inconsistant with the penalties.

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22Lewis Hamilton
23Heikki Kovalainen
Pedro de la Rosa
Gary Paffett

Mika didn't actually do much though, apart from getting beaten by his fellow teamates.

He showed flashes of brilliance, but was average otherwise.

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