Editing Mika Häkkinen (section)

==Post-Formula One (2002–2004)==
In July 2002, nine months into his sabbatical, Häkkinen announced that he would be retiring from Formula One. It was later revealed that Häkkinen approached McLaren team principal Ron Dennis during the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix and agreed a sabbatical, then returned to Monaco the following year to discuss and agree full-time retirement with Dennis.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen announces retirement|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2152164.stm|work=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 July 2002|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=9 July 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040709160434/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2152164.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In October, Häkkinen made his first appearance as a commentator for pay-for-view channel [[Canal Digital]] at the [[2002 United States Grand Prix|United States Grand Prix]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mika takes to the microphone|url=http://www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/MoreSport/Mika-takes-to-the-microphone-20020904|work=News24|publisher=Naspers|date=5 September 2002|access-date=18 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033051/http://www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/MoreSport/Mika-takes-to-the-microphone-20020904|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2002, it was announced that Häkkinen would be participating in the [[Finnish Rally Championship]] driving a [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC]]2 with his co-driver [[Arto Kapanen]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen to compete in Arctic Rally|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/21506|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=17 December 2002|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074709/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/21506|url-status=live}}</ref> He also stated that he would not move full-time into rallying and learn about driver control,<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen back behind the wheel|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2583415.stm|work=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=17 December 2002|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=20 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420120911/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2583415.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> although he later stated he would enter more rally events if he finished within the top two.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen set for Arctic Rally|url=http://a.espncdn.com/rpm/others/2002/1218/1479031.html|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=18 December 2002|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006155041/http://a.espncdn.com/rpm/others/2002/1218/1479031.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Making his debut in the [[Arctic Rally]], Häkkinen was delayed by four minutes as his team changed a tyre and eventually finished 30th.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen gets taste for rallying|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/2701271.stm|work=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=28 January 2003|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=27 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627002100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/2701271.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> He once again entered the event in 2004 driving a [[Toyota Corolla]] with co-driver {{interlanguage link|Risto Pietiläinen|fi}} and finished seventh.<ref>{{cite web|title=Another Rally for Hakkinen|url=http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/18252/|publisher=GPupdate.com|date=2 February 2004|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031221050/http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/18252/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mika Hakkinen takes part in Arctic Lapland Rally|url=http://www.arcticrally.fi/ARCHIVE/tiedotteet_2004_ENKKU.pdf|publisher=arcticrally.fi|date=30 January 2004|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031215350/http://www.arcticrally.fi/ARCHIVE/tiedotteet_2004_ENKKU.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During 2004, rumors circulated that Häkkinen was making a possible return to Formula One to fill in the vacant Williams seat left by [[Juan Pablo Montoya]]. In May, McLaren team principal Ron Dennis dismissed the rumors, stating that Häkkinen was not prepared for a comeback.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen return dismissed|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3764289.stm|work=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=31 May 2004|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816070737/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3764289.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Häkkinen held talks with BAR and Williams and later decided against returning to Formula One saying in 2005: "It's impossible to think that I would race a Formula One car again because as time passes my reactions become slower and my eyesight gets worse – that's life".<ref>{{cite web|title=Hakkinen rules out F1 return|url=http://m.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/76298/hakkinen-rules-out-f1-return/|publisher=GPUpdate.com|date=8 February 2005|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=30 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030173419/http://m.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/76298/hakkinen-rules-out-f1-return/|url-status=live}}</ref>