Salo to continue career?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Possible, according to Italian and Finnish press. Gazzetta dello Sport says that it is possible Salo would act as test driver for Ferrari, while Jukka Mildh who handles Salo's business in Finland confirmed it is a possibility. Luca Badoer would still be test driver, while Luciano Burti's contract would not be extended meaning the spot is open. Salo would be the stand-in driver as well to lure him in even more. I dont think Badoer will be happy with that!!!

Minardi is, according to Paul Stoddart himself, another chance for the Finn. Stoddart is keen on securing the services of Salo, because he wants one experienced driver and one young gun. Salo and Verstappen fit the category of experienced, but Stoddart wants 5 million euro to come with the driver through a sponsor. This might mean that the driver would not receive a paycheck, but would be able to drive.

Stoddart says that if he offers the drive to Salo, Salo will not be retiring.

[nichosnz 0]

Salo seems, like HHF and Diniz, to be in the sport for love, and so may be willing to drive without a paycheck.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think he would, it's not like he doesn't have enough...

[nichosnz 0]

And as you mentioned Badoer must be p**sed!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Should he sign for Ferrari Badoer would be downright p**sed! That would be the second time Salo has taken away his chances of racing the Ferrari.

[nichosnz 0]

He has to hope Salo turns it down or goes for 1 year only, or Badoer may never get a chance. Although he is only 31 so time is a little on his side.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Salo is 35 I believe, funny to think that hed retire at that age. Meanwhile, Hakkinen is also only 34, but 33 at the end of last season in Suzuka. Id like to see one more race from him, it would be great to see one final victory press conference from him.

[nichosnz 0]

That would be good but at the moment he would be most likely to be able to win in a Ferrari subbing for MS. What would his fans say about that considering during the entire peak of his F1 career he has been battling Ferrari, usually MS. I would have a certain irony though wouldn't it. And another chance of Badoer's scurpered.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Haha, Badoer keeps getting pushed to the side. If there were any chance of it happening it would be with Mclaren though.

[nichosnz 0]

Much less likely to get that final win with them though.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

But wouldnt it be great to see it happen? That one step back into glory before finally hanging up the helmet.

This though is just all my imagination playing, it will never happen A test session maybe, but never a race...

[nichosnz 0]

Never say never, Nigel Mansell Australia 1994.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, true, but I dont think Mika will ever do it.

[nichosnz 0]

True NM did go to CART and give that ago after leaving F1, Mika just left, so the situation is different already.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

And now with the announcement that Mika will be commentating for the Finnish BernieVision I dont think he will resume the demanding workout schedule etc.

[nichosnz 0]

He had made his mollions now it is time to relax a bit enjoy his family more than most of the rest of us are able to. We have to work for a living.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

True, Im not sure if Hakkinen will travel to each of the races and just do the commentating from Helsinki or something? If he has to travel to every race then I dont understand why retirement would allow him to spend more time with his family, because he'd be travelling to all the same places. He could just as well be driving then...

[nichosnz 0]

Testing schedules, Sponsor requirements, Fitness training...

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Good point(s).

[nichosnz 0]

I nearly included Press interviews, but then realised that he could be conducting them as opposed to giving them.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That's very true. He probably still does his fair share of interviews even if he is retired, but will likely be conducting them now as well.

[nichosnz 0]

Sometime in the not so distant future...

"And now on BernieVision we have Mika Hakkinen interviewing the new Formula One World Champion, KIMI RAIKKONEN. Over to you Mika..."

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hopefully that interview would be in Finnish. That would be quite something to have Mika talking English, just to have an answer from Kimi that can barely be understood or heard

[nichosnz 0]

Could be quite 'entertaining' in english though. And they would probably break into Finnish for a joke or similar from time to time. And all the english speaking viewers/listners/readers would be left scratching their heads (myself included).

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

And I'd be sitting there laughing my head off. You probably haven't noticed, but Mika made jokes often during press conferences that the normal English speaker didn't recognize, while us Finns where just laughing away. Tommi M