I was so close to McLaren drive, says Wurz.
McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz has revealed that he was within a whisker of replacing Mika Hakkinen in 2002 following the Finn's decision to take a sabbatical.
Wurz, who made his F1 debut in 1997 at the Canadian GP with the Benetton team told the website of British newspaper The Financial Times that he had the contract only for team boss Ron Dennis to change his mind, and opt for rookie sensation Kimi Raikkonen.
The Austrian said: "I already had the contract at home for four days, and had signed it, but then the team changed its mind."
McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz has revealed that he was within a whisker of replacing Mika Hakkinen in 2002 following the Finn's decision to take a sabbatical.
Wurz, who made his F1 debut in 1997 at the Canadian GP with the Benetton team told the website of British newspaper The Financial Times that he had the contract only for team boss Ron Dennis to change his mind, and opt for rookie sensation Kimi Raikkonen.
The Austrian said: "I already had the contract at home for four days, and had signed it, but then the team changed its mind."
Wurz will thus spend 2002 again as McLaren's 'third' driver, notching up the test miles while race drivers David Coulthard and new boy Kimi Raikkonen take all the limelight.
