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Hakkinen backs Schumacher to win race

ESPNF1 Staff
April 25, 2010 « Silverstone ' a track for the future' - Hill | »
Mika Hakkinen: 'Formula One will not give him any time. It knows no mercy and allows you no excuses' © Sutton Images
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Former world champion Mika Hakkinen has joined those defending Michael Schumacher as pressure mounts following disappointing results since his return to the sport, but has warned it won't get any easier for him.

"I'm pretty certain though that Schumacher will still win a race this season," Hakkinen said. "I know what drives him, how hard he works when he has set himself a goal. But it will be difficult for him. Formula One will not give him any time. It knows no mercy and allows you no excuses.

"He's not thinking about his reputation for a single second, but he will be upset if he does not manage to race according to his own expectations. That is the situation at the moment."

Hakkinen said a combination of new technical elements to F1 cars allied to Schumacher's age made things very hard for him.

"This sport expects total concentration. This is difficult to achieve when you are 41. At that age different things are important in your life."

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