Top 5 moments of Mika Hakkinen's career

In racing parlance, the common saying is that there are drivers and then there are Finns. The Finns, cool or quiet that they may be, bring some sassiness to the sport that permeates the spirit of the racing contingent.

And to that regard, Mika Hakkinen brought a sort of level-headedness and control that few exhibited at the top annals of motor-racing.

26 poles, 25 fastest laps, 20 race wins culminating in 2 world championships, Mika Hakkinen competed with arguably the best man on the grid and that too, when he was at the peak of his form and fitness: Michael Schumacher.

By winning two world titles amid a time that was being defined by Michael Schumacher's reign, Mika Hakkinen proved that the Finns were no lame pushovers.

Long before Kimi Raikkonen exhibited the verve of cool and even before the likes of Bottas established themselves in Formula 1, Mika came, conquered and established his legend.

As the original Flying Finn turns 50, we look back at some of the best moments from his fascinating journey:

The move on Schumi at Spa-Francorchamps

The 2000 Belgian Grand Prix was one of the best ever races at Spa

Most drivers would remember Michael Schumacher as having dented so many of their race wins courtesy some super moves on the track. But Mika Hakkinen was a bloke who dented Schumacher's confidence and ultimately, his chances of prevailing at the end thanks to gorgeous overtaking moves of the kinds one saw at the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix.

In the 44-lap contest checkered over 6.968 kilometers, Mika unfurled a superlative move chasing Michael around the famous Eau-Rouge that, to this day is touted as being amongst the most awesome passes ever executed in the history of Formula 1.

In his testing pursuit of Michael Schumacher for the lead of the race, that he had lost initially having clinched the pole, Mika dived to the right of Schumacher going full throttle when it had seemed that the Finn might have countered Michael on the outside.

In making an express, late lunge on Lap 40 with just 4 more laps to go, Mika passed not one but two cars. And in so doing, overcame the indomitable Ferrari of the legend.

A stunning first win at European Grand Prix, 1997

Michael Schumacher vs Mika Hakkinen was the main highlight of 1997's European GP

The 1997 European Grand Prix would always be remembered as one of the most widely debated races of its time and certainly the most controversial contest for that year.

Michael Schumacher led 40 straight laps in a Ferrari and it seemed he wasn't going to give away anything, having passed pole-sitter Jacques Villeneuve on the opening lap itself as the duo would approach the first corner.

From thereon, Schumi was the guy to beat even as the McLaren of Mika Hakkinen seemed as fast as the former's Ferrari F310.

By Lap 44, with 25 more to go, Hakkinen was running in fourth and seemed his race was hanging in the balance with no chance of sealing a win. Although, at this time, Villeneuve- then second, was inching closer to Michael - the race-leader.

Then, on Lap 44, Villeneuve, only under half-a-second of Michael, attempted a bold move at the dry sack corner. In executing his move, he dived into the outside of the race-leader and nearly held on to the racing line in braking late, when at the last moment, Michael turned into him, with the two colliding.

What happened next?

While Schumacher retired, earning the wrath of the worldwide media with some calling it a 'deliberate ploy', the immediate beneficiaries of this incident were the McLarens of Mika and his then-teammate, Coulthard.

Soon, Mika would catch Villeneuve and eventually pass him to register an epic win at the European Grand Prix.

Winning the 1998 title ahead of Schumacher

Mika Hakkinen, the Flying Finn

The 1998 season was all about the unbreakable resolve of Mika Hakkinen.

And in giving the Flying Finn his wings, there was a huge role played by his McLaren MP 4/13, clearly the better car in the end against Michael Schumacher's Ferrari.

In the 1998 F1 season, clinched by Hakkinen, one would see the Finnish driver earn an incredible 9 pole positions, 6 fastest laps, and ultimately, 8 race wins.

What was interesting about Hakkinen's imperious run in the season was that he'd win- throughout the entirety of the season - race wins in clusters, winning 2 back-to-back races each at Australia and Brazil, Spain and Monaco, Austria and Germany, and finally, at Luxembourg and Japan.

A grand win at the 1998 Monaco Grand Prix

Mika Hakkinen of Finland and McLaren-Mercedes celebrates his victory

One of the most famous wins of Mika's legendary career came at the fashionable Principality of Monte Carlo, the home of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Back in 1998, Mika put his McLaren, a car that would ultimately become a part of his alter ego, implicit in his memorable journey right on top by clinching pole at 1:19: 798, going the fastest ahead of the likes of Coulthard, Schumacher, Fisichella and Alesi among the others.

Then, in the race, Mika demonstrated real grit, setting one fast lap after another constantly from the onset.

He'd see close competition from teammate Coulthard but would be successful in keeping the tail of his McLaren ahead of the Scot.

Then, after some dramatic incidents in laps 18 and 42, with Coulthard retiring due to engine problems first up and later Benetton's Alexander Wurz retiring after an accident, the Benetton of Fisichella and the Ferrari of Eddie Irvine kept up the pressure.

Ultimately, Mika, strong in the tricky corners and unbeatably quick on the straights, put up a sterling show and emerged on top to claim his only win at Monaco.

Mika takes his final win at 2001 US Grand Prix

Mika Hakkinen's last win came in 2001

It's always interesting for a driver to win a Grand Prix, especially when he's not the pole-sitter.

And in that regard what made Hakkinen's triumph at the US Grand Prix of 2001 special was that it was to be his final race win before he'd bow out of McLaren in style to accommodate Raikkonen for the next season.

While it was Schumacher who clinched the pole ahead of the twin Williams' of Ralph and Montoya, Mika began his pursuit of an unlikely triumph from fourth.

But before the incredible race, early on in qualifying, Mika's chances of finishing with a memorable race were blown by none other than his own self, after he first slid off the track into the guardrail toward the end of the infield straight.

Later, during the race, as Montoya pulled a super move to clinch second, ahead of Schumacher, Michael's teammate, Barrichello, clearly the faster man toward the front pack on the grid, after making a daring move on Turn 2 to take the lead.

He seemed unstoppable in that Ferrari carrying a lighter fuel load and was clearly the man to beat.

However, the task for Mika was to not only pass Michael, his arch-rival, but also, his teammate. Later, around Lap 30, both Williams' of Montoya and Ralph spun out and lost control much to the chagrin of the fans, hundreds of thousands groaning in anger.

9 laps later, Michael pitted but Mika, remained on track in an attempt to make something of the track position.

This is exactly where the game of strategies unfolded with Mika pitting on lap 46, only to lose his lead to Barrichello, who had to again pit on lap 50.

Once Mika rejoined the pack holding track position, he wasn't going to yield. Finally, on lap 61, with the gap between the McLaren of Mika and the Ferrari of Barrichello down to only 2.2 seconds, the Italian car looking threatening again, there emerged smoke from the end of car number 2.

In suffering a sudden engine failure, the Brazilian bowed out with the Finn holding track position for 12 more laps to cross the checkered flag and collect his 20th race win.