F1
Published on June 17, 2026 • 15:45 PM by Oléna Champlain

F1 – McLaren immortalizes Mika Häkkinen for his 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix

McLaren paid a tribute to Mika Häkkinen by unveiling a statue in Woking during the team's 1000th GP celebrations.

As McLaren prepares to reach the symbolic milestone of 1000 Formula 1 Grands Prix, the British team has chosen to celebrate its history by paying tribute to one of its greatest legends. In Woking, a bronze statue of Mika Häkkinen was unveiled in front of the McLaren Technology Centre.

Häkkinen: a champion etched in McLaren history

Created by the British artist Paul OzThe artwork immortalizes a moment that remains etched in the memory of the fans: the crowning of Mika Hakkinen at the 1998 Japanese Grand Prix. This victory allowed the Finn to clinch his first world title before repeating the feat the following year, offering McLaren one of the most significant periods in its modern history.

Present at the inauguration, Häkkinen appeared particularly moved upon discovering this statue which celebrates his legacy within the Woking team.

McLaren celebrates a historic milestone

The event was also part of the festivities organized around the 1000th Grand Prix of McLaren en Formula 1For the occasion, several historic single-seaters were on display at the team's headquarters, while employees gathered alongside Land Norris et Oscar piastri to mark this exceptional moment.

A link between past and present

Through this tribute, McLaren reminds us that its success rests as much on its rich past as on its current ambitions. Between the exploits of Caged yesterday and the performances of Norris et Piastres Today, the British team continues to write one of the most beautiful stories of the Formula 1More than just a statue, this monument symbolizes the legacy left by the man whom many still consider one of the greatest pilots to have ever worn the colors of McLaren.