Top 5 moments of Mika Hakkinen's career

A stunning first win at European Grand Prix, 1997

Michael Schumacher vs Mika Hakkinen was the main highlight of 1997's European GP

The 1997 European Grand Prix would always be remembered as one of the most widely debated races of its time and certainly the most controversial contest for that year.

Michael Schumacher led 40 straight laps in a Ferrari and it seemed he wasn't going to give away anything, having passed pole-sitter Jacques Villeneuve on the opening lap itself as the duo would approach the first corner.

From thereon, Schumi was the guy to beat even as the McLaren of Mika Hakkinen seemed as fast as the former's Ferrari F310.

By Lap 44, with 25 more to go, Hakkinen was running in fourth and seemed his race was hanging in the balance with no chance of sealing a win. Although, at this time, Villeneuve- then second, was inching closer to Michael - the race-leader.

Then, on Lap 44, Villeneuve, only under half-a-second of Michael, attempted a bold move at the dry sack corner. In executing his move, he dived into the outside of the race-leader and nearly held on to the racing line in braking late, when at the last moment, Michael turned into him, with the two colliding.

What happened next?

While Schumacher retired, earning the wrath of the worldwide media with some calling it a 'deliberate ploy', the immediate beneficiaries of this incident were the McLarens of Mika and his then-teammate, Coulthard.

Soon, Mika would catch Villeneuve and eventually pass him to register an epic win at the European Grand Prix.