Formula 1 | Narrator legend Matti Kyllönen retired

Finland known as the iconic F1 sound Matti Kyllönen retired yesterday sunday.

Kyllönen, 75, who reported the F1 races from the end of the 1980s to the beginning of the 2000s, has worked in recent years as the general manager of the studio broadcasts of Viaplay, which broadcasts sports series.

On Monday, Viaplay updated X on Kyllönen’s last working day at the company.

“Yesterday, a wonderful era came to an end, when Matti Kyllönen, the blue-and-white commentator legend who had been employed by Viaplay for years, was sent to his well-deserved retirement,” Viaplay wrote in its accompanying text.

Kyllönen’s apprenticeship was attended by former F1 drivers Mika Hakkinen and Heikki Kovalainen. Häkkinen gave Kyllönen his old driving overalls as a gift, Kovalainen gave his helmet from the 2012 season. Kovalainen was driving in the Caterham team at the time.

Best Kyllönen is remembered for the broadcasts in which he explained the games as a commentator Erkki Mustakarin with.

Kyllönen also explained the final race of the 1998 season, where Mika Häkkinen secured the first world championship of his career at the Suzuka track in Japan.

Häkkinen led the World Championship by four points to Michael Schumacher, who drove to the pole in the race. However, the German had to start the race behind the pack in his Ferrari after the car stopped on the starting grid before the warm-up lap.

Häkkinen took the race lead. When Schumacher’s tire broke 20 laps before the finish line, Kyllönen uttered the legendary words:

– Mika Häkkinen is world champion in the 1998 season! Schumacher has to stop! Tickets in the lock, now you can ventilate, Kyllönen celebrated.

Correction at 15:10: Schumacher started in Suzuka 1998 from the back of the pack, not from the pit straight.