Hakkinen: "F1 not exciting"

Former Lotus and McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen believes Formula One is just not exciting anymore.

A gripping and intense battle between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel has made for some compelling viewing this season already but Mika Hakkinen believes tis is not enough to keep the sport interesting.

The Finn wants young drivers - for instance, Max Verstappen to participate in the battle for the title.

"The sport has not been exciting for a long time," Hakkinen said to German Bild.

"Rosberg against Hamilton was anything but dull, was just a little less interesting because it was a fight within one team.

"Now you have Mercedes against Ferrari, but at a distance young talents like Max Verstappen. That makes it a lot less exciting."

Hakkinen wants more drivers involved in the battle for the title between Hamilton and Vettel but admits that he is enjoying the fight for the Formula One throne between the pair.

"I can still enjoy the different driving styles of both drivers," Hakkinen added.

"Vettel drives a lot cleaner, as if he is slowly sliding the car around. While Lewis pushes his car to the limit and takes more risks.

"Lewis can take that risk, but not always. Sooner or later it will cause a collision once."