Hakkinen

"It is the last grand prix for me for a long time, maybe forever," the McLaren driver told a news conference after Friday's free practice for the season-ending race. "I don't know myself yet to be honest.

"I'm still focusing very hard on this weekend, I'll try to make the best possible result here for myself and for the team, so I don't want to put my mind to this kind of thing."

Hakkinen, a two-time world champion who claimed his 20th career victory last month at Indianapolis, has said he wants to take a year off to spend time with his wife and young son. Both Hakkinen and team principal Ron Dennis had previously insisted he would return in 2003.

"Mika is adamant that he is coming back and so would I be if I were in his shoes," Dennis told the same conference before Hakkinen spoke.

The Finn's compatriot Kimi Raikkonen has been recruited to take his place at McLaren next year alongside Briton David Coulthard and the question of what happens in 2003 remains open.

"As regards what happens, well it will be a nice problem to have," Dennis said.

Hakkinen said his current plans for next year were to spend time with family and do as little travelling as possible.

Dennis made clear again Coulthard, who has had a record partnership with Hakkinen of six seasons at Mercedes-powered McLaren, would not be the team's number one in 2002.

"David won't have number one status," he said. "We don't have number one status in the team. We never have had. We provide the drivers with equal equipment and the outcome will be the outcome."

Dennis also said he was not concerned about Raikkonen's comparative inexperience -- the Finn has completed just one season in F1 with Sauber after taking the British Formula Renault title.