Hakkinen hungry for hat-trick

Hakkinen is expecting plenty of support in Hungary

By BBC motor racing correspondent Jonathan Legard

Monaco without the barriers is the neatest description of the Hungaroring - it is also the kindest.

Hardly any of the drivers regard the circuit, situated 12 miles outside Budapest, with affection.

Most deplore the heat, the lack of overtaking opportunities and the slow, fiddly twists and turns of the hilly bowl.

The one notable exception is Mika Hakkinen. That is mainly because half of Finland moves south to cheer him on his way over the weekend.

And it seems to help. Hakkinen's won in Hungary for the last two years and is hungry to make it a hat-trick.

Hakkinen: Hat-trick chance

"I'm looking forward to Hungary as it's a special race for me," he said.

"With the number of enthusiastic Finns who attend each year, the atmosphere is always fantastic.

"It's almost like my home race and I am hoping to achieve the same result as last year.

"Car set-up is particularly important at the Hungaroring in order to maximise performance in the twisty sections and the contrasting fast pit straight."

Last year, of course, Hakkinen and McLaren were firing on all cylinders, charging ahead in the championship.

This weekend, like much of this year, however, promises to belong to Michael Schumacher and Ferrari.

Just as Nigel Mansell did in 1992, Schumacher heads to Hungary knowing that the world championship is his for the taking

(Alessi) will really have to graft at Jordan over these last five races but he is in a perfect situation to revive his career

Eddie Jordan

Victory would certainly clinch it. But it may not come to that if the German scores three more points than his nearest rival, David Coulthard.

Typically the defending champion is making all the right noises after Formula One's three-week break.

"The holiday will mean I will arrive in Hungary refreshed and ready to go mentally," he said.

Talk of a fourth world title, never mind Alain Prost's record, has had no part in his preparations.

"It didn't occupy me that much. I always said at the start of the year that I achieved my main aim winning the world championship with Ferrari last year.

"Everything else after that I see as a bonus. I go into every race with the aim to win. Everything else just happens."

How David Coulthard would like things to happen like that.

Hockenheim's double failure summed up what might have been for him, Hakkinen and McLaren in 2001.

Schumacher's inevitable triumph will only rub salt in the wound that gets deeper with each season of frustration.

Jordan: All smiles after Alesi's return

Coulthard has pinpointed qualifying as the weekend's key session. If he can perform like he did at the real Monaco, he could yet delay his rival's celebrations.

But remember who won the race around that sumptuous Mediterranean maze?

And remember who shared the podium with Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello?

Eddie Irvine's third place there may be a hint of things to come in Hungary for Jaguar.

The revised green machines seem to prosper where downforce is paramount.

Unlike the Williams team. Their thunder through the trees at Hockenheim will not be repeated. BMW power is not best suited by Hungary's downforce demands.

But the continuing in-house battle for supremacy between Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya should be a fascinating side show.

I feel I have a car that is capable of being on the podium

Jean Alesi

Schumacher has more points and the superior finishing record but the Colombian looks to be gaining ground fast in performance - as long as his car lasts the distance!

The Jordan garage should be a happier place. But will it be big enough to accommodate two smiling backslappers like Eddie Jordan and Jean Alesi?

Reunited as team owner and driver for the first time since the pair won the European F3000 title in 1989 together, Alesi has a chance to stake his claim for a drive in 2002.

He also must lift Eddie Jordan's spirits after the debacle surrounding Heinz Harald Frentzen, who is back in the pitlane in Alesi's old car at Prost.

Mercurial Frenchman

In true style, living off his emotions and his instincts as ever, Alesi is brimming with optimism.

"I feel I have a car that is capable of being on the podium and that's a real boost for my motivation," he said after completing 18 laps this week in a shakedown at Silverstone this week.

"I'll still have to find my feet in the team and get to know my new surroundings as well as a new car, which will be a lot to do over a Grand Prix weekend, but I'm looking forward to it."

"On the canteen wall, there's a montage of photos of my 1989 car. It made me laugh because I'd written 'Goodbye' on it when I left the team but I thought of taking it down and adding, 'Hi guys, I'm back!'"

Eddie Jordan has set no specific targets for the mercurial Frenchman but he believes both parties will draw inspiration from their renewed relationship.

"I believe Jordan can get something special out of him and that he can do something special for us," he said.

"Signing Jean in 1989 was seen as a big risk, much as it is today.

"The fairy tale of twelve years ago is unlikely to happen again, but there is no reason why we can't have some good results.

"He'll really have to graft at Jordan over these last five races but he is in a perfect situation to revive his career."

Same could be said about Heinz-Harald Frenzten. His future remains as cloudy as the Prost team.

But what he has to say might at least clear up what went wrong for him at Jordan.