McLaren should not change its current driver lineup to hire Max Verstappen, according to Mika Hakkinen. For the former driver and two-time Formula 1 champion, the team has already built a solid foundation and putting that at risk would be a mistake.
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In a participation on the Up to Speed podcast, the Finn stated that McLaren’s main strength lies in the strength of the whole, not just the individual quality of the drivers. In his assessment, preserving internal stability is a decisive factor to keep a team competitive in the long term.
Hakkinen highlighted that McLaren’s philosophy has always been to prioritize the complete team package: “It’s very interesting. It’s not just Max, of course. There are many other drivers, but from what I’ve seen in the way McLaren works, they always look at the whole team, because that is the only way to achieve success,” he said.
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Next, the former driver explained that avoiding unnecessary changes reduces risks and helps maintain the working environment. For him, replacing one of the current drivers could compromise the harmony built within the team: “In my opinion, if I were asked what I would do, I would try to minimize that risk. That way, you would lose that team spirit. If the team already has two great drivers, why change that?” he questioned.
Hakkinen also recalled the long period he stayed at McLaren alongside the same teammate, using this experience as an example of the value of continuity: “McLaren had a world champion. We were teammates for the longest time in Formula 1, and that shows that when there is good harmony within the team, why put someone else there?” he added.
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