Mika Hakkinen’s Bold Claim: I Was Slightly Better Than Schumacher

One of the most iconic rivalries in Formula 1 history, Mika Hakkinen versus Michael Schumacher, continues to spark debate even decades later. Speaking on the High Performance podcast, two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen shared candid reflections on his long-standing rivalry with Schumacher, stating that he believed he held a slight edge over the German legend on track.

Hakkinen explained that he closely studied Schumacher throughout their battles, carefully analyzing his racing lines, driving technique, and steering inputs. While acknowledging Schumacher’s immense talent, Hakkinen noted that he never viewed him as unbeatable. From his perspective, the performance gap was minimal, and in certain situations, he felt he had the upper hand.

The Finnish driver praised Schumacher’s physical strength and his ability to translate that advantage into tire management and suspension control. According to Hakkinen, Schumacher’s exceptional car balance, strategic thinking, and remarkable vehicle control made him one of the toughest competitors of his era.

Psychological pressure was another key aspect of their rivalry. Hakkinen revealed that Schumacher often attempted to gain a mental edge, but those tactics never worked on him. His deep trust in the McLaren team, his engineers, and his own capabilities allowed him to remain unaffected by mind games.

Their rivalry began well before Formula 1, with Hakkinen recalling a defining moment at the 1990 Macau Formula 3 race. After winning the first race and finishing ahead of Schumacher, Hakkinen entered the second race confident in his pace and chances of victory.

Macau’s narrow street circuit, however, left no room for error. On the final lap, Schumacher made a costly mistake, giving Hakkinen the opportunity to pass. Despite a brief contact during the maneuver, Hakkinen chose to stay calm, realizing that anger would change nothing.

Hakkinen described Schumacher as an uncompromising and aggressive competitor, sometimes pushing the limits of fairness. He pointed to Schumacher’s well-known clashes with drivers such as Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, and David Coulthard as further evidence of this mindset. Still, Hakkinen maintained that the only meaningful response was to win on the track, not through words.

Following the Macau incident, both drivers gained a deeper understanding of each other. While subtle tactics and gamesmanship became part of their later battles, Hakkinen emphasized that their rivalry remained clean, with no deliberate on-track collisions. In his view, this intense competition helped shape one of the most thrilling eras in Formula 1 history.