Hakkinen: The show must go on

Tuesday 22nd September 2009

Mika Hakkinen has urged the Formula One community to forget about the race-fixing scandal and "concentrate on the future".

The sport is once again reeling after Renault were handed a suspended two-year ban for fixing the result of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Former World Champion Hakkinen, though, feels it is important for the sport to focus on the future.

"The Show must go on," Hakkinen told news agency Reuters. "People who have done wrong, they need a penalty...And life has to go on.

"Forget it and concentrate on the future. I think what is important now is a great grand prix is coming."

Moving away from the Singapore scandal, Hakkinen welcomed the return of Lotus to Formula One. The Malaysian-backed team will be back on the starting grid in 2010 following a 15-year absence.

"I think it's brilliant," he added. "I think it's absolutely brilliant.

"A new organisation in Formula One, new team in Formula One, new people in Formula One. All of this is a positive thing."

The 41-year-old, who started his F1 career at Lotus, also had some advice for the team.

"You really, really have to keep your feet down on earth," he said. "You have to have the right people running the operation.

"Obviously (there is) a lot of money involved, and you need professional people. So they, the people who have decided to bring the Lotus back, and run the Formula One team, I hope they have a good plan to get the right people."

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