Editing Mika Häkkinen (section)

====1991====
[[File:Mika Hakkinen 1991 USA.jpg|thumb|right|Häkkinen driving for Lotus at the [[1991 United States Grand Prix]], his Formula One debut race]]
Häkkinen made his first test in a Formula One car with the [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] team driving 90 laps around the [[Silverstone Circuit]] and set quicker lap times than regular driver [[Alessandro Nannini]]. He found it difficult to fit into the Benetton but liked the steering and throttle response. Häkkinen expected not to be offered a seat at Benetton and he decided to sign with the [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] team for the [[1991 Formula One season|1991 season]].<ref name="interviewhakkinen"/> Making his debut in the [[1991 United States Grand Prix|United States Grand Prix]] alongside teammate [[Julian Bailey (racing driver)|Julian Bailey]], Häkkinen qualified thirteenth on the grid and suffered an engine failure on the sixtieth lap and was classified thirteenth. The next race in [[1991 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazil]] saw him finish ninth, and scored his first Formula One points by reaching fifth place in [[1991 San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino]].<ref name="MMagBio" /> Häkkinen suffered from a dip in race form as he encountered consecutive retirements in the next two races—his car suffered from an oil leak in [[1991 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]] and spun out in [[1991 Canadian Grand Prix|Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1991 Monaco GP|url=http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1991&gp=Monaco%20GP&r=1&type=res|publisher=ChicaneF1|access-date=2 November 2014|archive-date=12 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012050019/http://chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1991&gp=Monaco%20GP&r=1&type=res|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1991 Canadian GP|url=http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1991&gp=Canadian%20GP&r=1&type=res|publisher=ChicaneF1|access-date=2 November 2014|archive-date=12 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012050213/http://chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1991&gp=Canadian%20GP&r=1&type=res|url-status=live}}</ref> Before Canada, Bailey lost his seat at Lotus due to a lack of funding,<ref>{{cite web|title=Julian Bailey|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/teamlotus/motorsport/driver/1115.html|work=ESPN.co.uk|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=1 November 2014|archive-date=1 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101212448/http://www.espn.co.uk/teamlotus/motorsport/driver/1115.html|url-status=live}}</ref> so Häkkinen was partnered by [[Johnny Herbert]] and [[Michael Bartels]] throughout the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schot|first=Marcel|title=We are the Champions|url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/98/jpn/schot.html|work=Atlas F1|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=4 November 1998|access-date=2 November 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231429/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/98/jpn/schot.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although Häkkinen secured a ninth-place finish in [[1991 Mexican Grand Prix|Mexico]], he did not qualify for the [[1991 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]]. Over the remainder of the season, he did not finish four of the nine races he entered. Häkkinen finished his debut season sixteenth in the Drivers' Championship, scoring two points.<ref name="MMagBio" />