Formula 1: Retirement was on Hakkinen's mind

Mika Hakkinen concedes he has thought about retirement from Formula One.

But the McLaren driver feels it is something every grand prix driver considers at some point during any given season.

Just a few weeks ago, speculation was rife that Hakkinen was on the brink of taking the chequered flag for the final time.

Then came his victory in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

"I think every grand prix driver, every year, thinks about retirement," said Hakkinen.

"F1 is racing, which is much more losing than winning, and so it comes to the point when you think to yourself 'I've had enough of travelling and driving these things'.

"It happens. It's happened to me and it's happened to a lot of other drivers. It's a normal thing, but still you look to the future and still you continue.

"But I know there will come a day, sooner or later, when I will quit. I've been in Formula One for 11 years now, which is a long time.

"I think a person will feel inside when he is ready to quit. I do think about it but I don't know yet when it will be.

"And as for what I will do when I stop, that's extremely difficult to say. I'm not too comfortable about opening up on that at the moment."

For Hakkinen, who admits ongoing talks with McLaren regarding a deal for next year are "very positive", knows there will be no 'fix' like driving an F1 car when he does decide to call it a day.

"When I do retire, finding a job to which can relate, or is very similar to grand prix racing is going to be very difficult," he said.