Berger: It's Mika's Title.

BMW motorsport boss Gerhard Berger believes that Michael Schumacher's absence has all but handed Mika Hakkinen his second world title.


According to the Austrian, neither Hakkinen's team-mate David Coulthard, or Eddie Irvine - Ferrari's number one in Schumacher's absence - are in the same class as the Finn, and only bad luck would prevent the McLaren driver from securing back-to-back crowns.


"Hakkinen is going to have to be careful to keep focused, and keep luck on his side," Berger admitted, "but, at the end of the day, he will be world champion. I don't see anyone giving him a really hard time.


"Irvine does not have the capacity to do it - he and Coulthard are in a lower league. If everything goes alright, Hakkinen will get the championship much easier without Schumacher. It is a little bit odd without Michael - he was always the pepper in the soup."


Hakkinen currently holds an eight point advantage over both the German and Irvine, with Coulthard a further ten back after winning at Silverstone.