06/12/2006
NEWS STORY
With many fans, not to mention seasoned Formula One journos, still puzzled as to why Mika Hakkinen should suddenly find himself back in a Formula One cockpit, after an absence of exactly five years, Finland's Turun Sanomat has come up with an interesting suggestion.
The Finnish newspaper is claiming that Gerhard Berger, dissatisfied with the performances of his (2006) drivers, Tonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed, approached the two-time World Champion with a view to recruiting him to Toro Rosso.
Turun Sanomat alleges that when Hakkinen subsequently confided in (former boss) Ron Dennis, the Englishman hastily arranged the recent test drive, with the possible promise of further tests to follow.
Like many media theories there are a number of holes, however, at a time when many of us are saying "why" and "what's the point", this one is as good as any.