Despite McLaren’s continued success, having achieved their fourth consecutive podium finish of the season, Norris’ struggles in Bahrain prevented the team from securing a 1-2 finish. Still, the result is a strong one for McLaren as they remain at the top of the Constructors’ Standings.

Norris, who still leads the Drivers’ Standings, acknowledged his mistakes after the race. His blunder before the start of the race ultimately impacted the final result. Reflecting on his third-place finish at the Bahrain GP, Norris spoke to the media about his performance and the pivotal moments during the race.

“It was a tough race. I made too many mistakes with the overtakes and ended up out of position. It was a messy race for me, and I’m disappointed we couldn’t bring home a 1-2 for McLaren,” Norris said after the Bahrain GP.

Piastri reflects on his victory

After securing a first-place finish in Bahrain, McLaren’s rising star, Oscar Piastri, shared his thoughts on the key factors that led to his impressive win. He praised the team’s performance throughout the weekend, highlighting their collective effort in delivering a strong result.

“It’s an incredible result, and the weekend has been amazing. I can’t thank the team enough for the car they’ve given me,” Piastri said following the race. His determination to challenge for the championship was evident in his words.

Piastri also spoke about the race’s final stages, when the safety car was deployed. “I would have preferred not to have the Safety Car, but I was still pretty confident. It was relatively straightforward, and I was never going to let that one slip away,” he added.

What’s next for F1?

Following the Bahrain Grand Prix, the F1 season heads to Saudi Arabia next weekend. With Norris sitting just above Max Verstappen in the standings, as the Dutch driver finished sixth in Bahrain, the upcoming race will be crucial for the championship race. The following race in May will take place in the U.S., adding further importance to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 is widely known as one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Many drivers have endured serious accidents, leading to some of the sport’s most inspiring comebacks. One of them was Mika Häkkinen, the ‘Flying Finn,’ who nearly lost his life in 1995 but fought back to become a two-time champion.

He was born on September 28, 1968, in Vantaa, Finland. From a young age, he showed an interest in speed and competition. His parents, though not wealthy, supported his passion by buying him a used go-kart when he was just five years old.

Häkkinen quickly made a name for himself in Finnish karting championships, winning several national titles. His calm demeanor off-track and fierce determination on it made him stand out. He progressed through the ranks of junior formulas, competing in Formula Ford and Formula 3, where he became British F3 champion in 1990.

That victory opened the doors to Formula 1, and he made his debut with Team Lotus in 1991. While the car was far from competitive, he impressed with his raw speed and consistency. In 1993, he became a test driver for McLaren and soon replaced Michael Andretti in the race seat. His early years at McLaren were tough as the team was rebuilding, and victories seemed far out of reach.

The 1995 crash: A fight for life

On November 10, 1995, during practice for the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, Häkkinen suffered one of the most frightening crashes in F1 history. A tire failure sent his McLaren into the barriers at high speed, leaving him with a fractured skull and requiring an emergency tracheotomy at the track to save his life.

“My accident in ’95 was quite a challenge,” Häkkinen said while appearing in Motorsport Heroes, a film by Manish Pandey for Motorsport.tv in 2020. “This happened in Australia, in Adelaide, I was going flat out on a long straight. Just when I was entering the corner, it didn’t explode, it just pfffffft – lost the pressure very quickly,” he explained.

“So the car started bottoming, and I lost control of course. There was a massive curb on the exit, and of course I hit the curb and the car bounced a couple of times. I hit the barrier sideways,” he said.

His process of recovery was difficult. “I was in a coma for a few days. Then the horrible things start when you wake up. You start realizing like ‘oh my God’. I banged [my head] so hard that I lost control of one side of my face, because the nerves got damaged. So when I was sleeping they had to tape over one of my eyes, to make it close,” Hakkinen revealed.

After spending five weeks in Australia, many thought his career was over. But Häkkinen not only recovered, but he returned to the grid for the following season. A few years later, he would reach glory.

Rivalry with Michael Schumacher and Championship glory

By 1998, McLaren had built a car capable of winning, and Häkkinen seized the moment. His rivalry with Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher reached its peak that year. The two pushed each other to the limit, with mutual respect despite fierce on-track battles.

Häkkinen’s flawless driving and cool head under pressure earned him his first World Championship in 1998. He became a hero in Finland and a respected champion worldwide.

The following year, the battle intensified. Schumacher’s Ferrari was stronger. However, the German pilot suffered an accident, breaking his leg, which forced him out of six races. In the end, this helped Häkkinen clinch his second consecutive World Championship.

By the 2000, the competition between the two pilots continued and the title was decided until the last races. In one of the most iconic moments in F1 history, at the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix, Häkkinen pulled off a daring overtake on Schumacher, going around him while simultaneously passing Ricardo Zonta. However, Schumacher took the championship at the Japan Grand Prix.

His retirement was influenced by his accident

In an interview with GP Racing magazine in 2020, Hakkinen was asked if he felt that the accident had slowed him down any. “No, I don’t think I would have been quicker, but I think I would have continued my career longer,” he replied.

“It had an effect on me. It made me realise that when an accident like that happens – and it can happen at any time in F1 because motorsport is dangerous. It made me think, as soon as I won my world championships, ‘Hmmm… don’t push your luck any further,’” he admitted.

So, after a difficult season in 2001, in which he couldn’t maintain the pace due to his car, he announced his retirement. However, he won his second-to-last career at the United States GP in Indianapolis. He left his seat to his countryman Kimmi Räikkönen.

Häkkinen’s story is still considered as one of the most inspiring tales in the history of F1. Today, he is remembered not just as a two-time World Champion but as a symbol of never giving up.

While the Australian Grand Prix wasn’t the ideal start to his tenure with Ferrari, Hamilton showed he’s ready for the challenges this season will present. Meanwhile, Verstappen made it clear that he’s not backing down from his quest for a third consecutive title in 2025, remaining fully committed to defending his crown.

Looking ahead, Norris is eager to carry his momentum into the upcoming Grand Prix. But before the season kicked off, he shared his thoughts on his favorite F1 drivers in an interview with Mail Sports.

When asked about some of the greatest drivers in F1 history, Norris named notable figures like Sebastian Vettel, Nigel Mansell, and Fernando Alonso, leaving out legends such as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. But when it came time to pick between Verstappen and Hamilton, Norris made his choice.

“See you later (laughs). I know Max better than some of the other drivers. In terms of people I get along with, I’d choose Max over Hamilton,” Norris said. Given Verstappen’s ongoing career, his answer was surprising considering Hamilton’s remarkable seven world titles.

Norris reflects on Australian Grand Prix victory

With a new trophy added to his collection, Lando Norris heads into the next race atop the Formula 1 driver’s standings. Following his impressive weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, the British driver shared his thoughts on both his performance and the efforts of his McLaren team.

“It was a perfect weekend from start to finish. Massive thanks to everyone at McLaren, everyone back home, and at MTC—everyone here,” Norris said. “This is a beautiful way to start the year. A big thanks to the team, because the car has been amazing. This isn’t just down to my drive today; it takes a lot of team effort.“

Verstappen reflects after finishing in second place

Max Verstappen may have seen his record streak of 1,100 consecutive days at the top of the F1 standings come to an end, but the reigning world champion still expressed satisfaction with his performance in the opening race of the season. “Tricky conditions, but good fun! Solid start. Let’s keep pushing,” Verstappen posted on his X account.

With the next race in China this weekend, Verstappen will look to remind everyone why he’s the reigning champion, having delivered a remarkable drive under challenging conditions last season.

The race will be the fifth round of the 2021Formula OneWorld Championship, and the 78thGrand Prix of Monaco. Ittakes place on an enclosed course in the streets of Monaco, with several changes in height, tight corners and a tunnel, rendering it one in the toughest courses of Formula One.

Ayrton Sennaholds the record for most wins (6), while McLarenwith 15wins are the trackconstructors leaders.As the Monaco Grand Prix is getting closer, let’s take a look at the date, time, and TV channel in the US.

2021 Monaco Grand Prix: Date

The Monaco Grand Prix Race will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo. It will have 78laps in a circuit with3.337km.

2021 Monaco Grand Prix: Time by State in the US

ET:9:00AM
CT:8:00 AM
MT:7:00 AM
PT:6:00 AM

TV Channel in the US to watch 2021 Monaco Grand Prix

The fifth race of the Formula One World Championship 2021 Monaco Grand Prix will be broadcasted onESPNin the United States.