Editing Mika Häkkinen (section)

====1996====
[[File:Mika Häkkinen, Johnny Herbert - Imola 1996.jpg|thumb|Häkkinen and [[Johnny Herbert]] during free practice of [[1996 San Marino Grand Prix]]]]
The [[1996 Formula One season|1996 season]] was the first in which Häkkinen was the more experienced driver in his team and was partnered by David Coulthard. Häkkinen was confident going into the season and set himself a target of winning races.<ref>{{cite web|title=New McLaren|url=http://www.atlasf1.com/news/1996/076.htm|work=Atlas F1|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=11 February 1996|access-date=9 September 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114955/http://www.atlasf1.com/news/1996/076.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> To ensure his fitness, Häkkinen spent time training in [[Bali]] and in February, McLaren conducted a secret test at the [[Paul Ricard Circuit]]. In the event that Häkkinen was not prepared, McLaren had Magnussen to replace him should the need arise.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen tests at Ricard|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00463.html|work=GrandPrix.com|publisher=Inside F1, Inc.|date=5 February 1996|access-date=18 November 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104421/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00463.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The season started well for Häkkinen: He earned consecutive points-scoring positions in the opening two rounds, before he suffered his first retirement of the season in [[1996 Argentine Grand Prix|Argentina]] as his car developed a throttle problem.<ref>{{cite web|title=Warming up; Hill dominates again|url=http://www.atlasf1.com/news/1996/121.htm|work=Atlas F1|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=7 April 1996|access-date=10 September 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074623/http://www.atlasf1.com/news/1996/121.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He later finished the next two races, albeit outside of the points scoring positions, before returning consecutive finishes inside of the points in the following four races.<ref name="MMagBio" />

In the following race held in [[1996 British Grand Prix|Britain]] where McLaren brought a revised version of the car, their [[McLaren MP4/11B]], Häkkinen reached his first podium finish of the season with third place.<ref>{{cite web|last=Henry|first=Alan|title=McLaren slide into the depths|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/jul/08/formulaone.formulaone20021|work=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=8 July 2002|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=9 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909171752/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/jul/08/formulaone.formulaone20021|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he retired from the next race held in [[1996 German Grand Prix|Germany]] due to a gearbox failure.<ref>{{cite web|last=Waller|first=Toby|title=Round 11: 'It was always going to be close'|url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/96/ger/waller2.html|work=Atlas F1|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=30 July 1996|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231420/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/96/ger/waller2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This marked a turning point in Häkkinen's season as he finished the next three races, including consecutive third-place finishes in [[1996 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgium]] and [[1996 Italian Grand Prix|Italy]].<ref name="MMagBio" /> In September, it was announced that Häkkinen would remain at McLaren for 1997,<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen stays at McLaren|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00766.html|work=GrandPrix.com|publisher=Inside F1, Inc.|date=16 September 1996|access-date=10 September 2014|archive-date=25 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925120742/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00766.html|url-status=live}}</ref> having previously been linked to Williams and [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen to Benetton?|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00648.html|work=GrandPrix.com|publisher=Inside F1, Inc.|date=17 June 1996|access-date=10 September 2014|archive-date=16 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016042101/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00648.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He retired from the penultimate round in [[1996 Portuguese Grand Prix|Portugal]] resulting a collision with teammate Coulthard, damaging Häkkinen's front wing and eventually led to his retirement on the 52nd lap of the race.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grand Prix Results: Portuguese GP, 1996|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr596.html|work=GrandPrix.com|publisher=Inside F1, Inc.|date=22 September 1996|access-date=10 September 2014|archive-date=13 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813053727/http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr596.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He rounded off the season with a third-place finish in season finale held in [[1996 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]]. Häkkinen finished the season fifth in the Drivers' Championship, scoring 31 points.<ref name="MMagBio" />