Verstappen or Hamilton as teammate? Hakkinen expresses preference

Hakkinen chooses between Verstappen and Hamilton

Coulthard puts the question to Hakkinen, with whom he drove together with for seven years at McLaren: at the peak of his career, would he have preferred Verstappen or Hamilton as a teammate? "To get the success for yourself and for the team and for your teammate, you need teamwork," Hakkinen said.

He continued: "So you have to look not only about the ability, how quick the driver is, how good technically he is, but also look at who is the best team player. What kind of teammate can work with mechanics, can work with engineers, designers, the marketing, the media. You need this package from your teammate for creating a success for the team."

It is a difficult choice, but the 55-year-old Finn knows in the end which of the two F1 champions he would pick. "If I would have to now decide who it would be, I would probably take Lewis. He has such a lot of experience in all the aspects. So I would learn at the same time. He's super quick. So I think he would be a very interesting teammate," said Hakkinen.

"Max would be, of course, very quick like Lewis. There's no question about that again. But if I would look to the long term to give the best possible chance for the team, I don't think it would be a good one with me. Maybe with other drivers, good, but probably not with me," said the two-time world champion.