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Häkkinen: "I can understand why he did it."
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08 March 2010 @ 15:30 GMT - Charles Cooper Former F1 champion Mika Häkkinen says he can understand why Michael Schumacher decided to return to the sport. The German driver will make his return to F1 on Sunday at the Bahrain grand prix. "I can understand why he did it. You have the big house, the family, the kids; but sometimes it's not just enough. It's such a personal decision. He still has the fire, clearly. Knowing him as I do, he would not come back if did not think he could beat these younger guys. He is only ever there to win," Häkkinen said. |
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The Finn says Schumacher has a lot of difficulties to overcome as he returns to the sport. One of them would be to learn the new tracks. "But there are many difficult aspects for him to overcome: he has to master several new tracks this season, he cannot just say 'I am going to win'," he said.
But he says it will be difficult, but reckons possible. "Winning is possible even if, against the Ferrari and McLaren guys, it will be extremely difficult. Do not look past the preparations by Ross Brawn and Mercedes, however. I know all about Mercedes. I know how prepared they are, how passionate they are. If any team can help Michael to do this, they can," he said.
The seven times world champion is super fit as always and the Finn reckons it will be the same. "Michael is as fit as he has ever been. He is the fittest guy the sport has known and he knows exactly what condition he has to be in," he said.
Häkkinen admits that he thought about returning to the sport, but he never considered it. "I thought about it. When this life has been in your blood from the age of five you cannot help it. But I did not consider it this time, because I knew that with F1, you need to make a huge commitment from your life. You cannot go into it thinking this is a hobby, just a bit of fun. Truly, you have to work hard," he explained.