Mika Hakkinen made his Formula 1 debut in Lotus. But very soon it became clear that Peter Collins, Lotus manager, favours Johnny Herbert. Hakkinen didn't want to be a No. 2 driver in a small team. And in the end of 1992 his relationships with Lotus came to the edge. Transfer to another tean was inevitable. Especially when Frank Williams shown his interest to young Finn.

When Collins heard about Williams' plans he began a war against his driver. He told everyone that Hakkinen is not so fast driver and that he already has signed contract with Lotus. But soon it became clear that this document is not a contract but a protocol of expectancies. Several years later Peter Collins declared that he just tried to keep Hakkinen in the team. But Collins managed to win first round of this war. Frank Williams late with his apllication for 1993 season and Williams could be allowed to compete only with agreement of all team-managers. And Collins said that he will agree only if Williams will refuse his plans to hire Hakkinen.

But neither Hakkinen nor his manager Keke Rosberg wanted to stay at Lotus. And right after collapse of talks with Williams they  began active contacts with Ligier. The probability of this transfer was very high. Contract was ready but French team decided to change one of it's statements. And Mika refused to sign it.

It was December but Hakkinen's future still was not clear. And then Rosberg contacted Ron Dennis. At that time McLaren's boss had a vacations in the French Alps after a very unsuccessful season. McLaren was beaten by Williams Renault. Engine manufacturer Honda decided to abandone it's Formula 1 programme. Gerhard Berger gone to Ferrari. Ayrton Senna was going to race in IndyCar. And Dennis was looking for a driver just in case if Brazilian will decide to go. After a short talks in the Courchevel airport Hakkinen and Dennins signed a contract. Peter Collins wanted to veto this deal once again but McLaren's lawyers quickly proven that his pretensions has no legal ground. Peter lost his war.

But even after this Hakkinen's future still was uncertain. He tested new McLaren MP4/8 with Michael Andretti. But Senna still didn't made his decision. He was testing Penske Chevrolet on the Phoenix track, talking about his desire to continue the battle with Alain Prost, trying to make Ron Dennis to sign a contract for every race. Anyway, right before the opening round of 1993 World Championship Hakkinen was ready to take his place on the starting grid. But Senna decided to stay. So Mika became the most high-paid test driver of that time.

"I sign a contract with McLaren under pressure from Keke Rosberg. It was clear that it's very risky: all or nothing. And Senna's decision to take part in the first race became a hard blow for me." - Hakkinen recalls. "It's very hard to be a spare driver. Even harder then to stall on the start of every race. But I was sure that I will drive. Ron (Dennis) promised me that I will race this season. So I trusted him and worked for a prospects. It's hard to say did McLaren team-manager really plan to replace Ayrton Senna or Michael Andretti with young Finn. Especially if American was more lucky that year. But his first and last F1 season became a cocktail of absurd mistakes and fantastically bad luck. After Italian Grand Prix IndyCar's ex-champion decided to get back to US.

Hakkinen back to races during Portuguese Grand Prix. And beaten Senna in his first qualifying for McLaren. "Ayrton just couldn't understood how can I make it. But I was very selfassured and felt that I can win the race." - smiles Mika. Two weeks later he scored his career first podium finish. And that was just a beginning. A beginning that may not happen.