Hakkinen backs McLaren to ‘dominate’ F1 rivals

Two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen has backed his former McLaren squad to “dominate” its F1 rivals across the final rounds of the current campaign.

McLaren has possessed a consistently competitive package this year with upgrades allowing it to challenge at the front of the field.

It has three wins to its name and is currently hunting Red Bull for the constructors' championship, with just eight points separating the two outfits.

Red Bull has struggled with its car development while Mercedes and Ferrari have also run into obstacles, leaving Hakkinen to see McLaren as the best-equipped team heading into the final stages of the season.

“They are the best team out there, and this is the most exciting time, in my opinion, to see what's going to happen for the rest of the season,” Hakkinen told Unibet.

“Are they going to just flat-out dominate? I hope they will. Or are there going to be some other teams upgrading their cars?

“I don't think so. I think McLaren has tools, and they have drivers, they have the designers, they have the management, they have the mega, fantastic partners financing this great, great team.

“So I don't think anybody is going to catch them.”

Hakkinen hails McLaren F1 management

McLaren has undergone significant growth over the past two seasons as it began last year's campaign competing towards the back of the grid.

Hakkinen hailed the process implemented by management to bring it back to a competitive position.

“If you look back quite a few years, the success of the McLaren has been very poor,” he said. “Looking at last year, I think they qualified at one of the first grands prix on the last row.

“It's incredible to see that the team has a focus. The team has understanding to say ‘what do we need to get into position to win races?’

“That has been mega work for the management of the team, to be able to motivate the drivers, to make the drivers understand, ‘yes, we will get there - just please, patience, please work hard'.

“Including engineers, the mechanics, the designers, the marketing - to make them to believe, 'yes, we are gonna get there, it takes time'.

 “It takes so many years, but now look where they are.”