Mika Salo

Mika Salo, born on November 30, 1966, is a Finnish former racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1994 to 2002. Born in Helsinki, Finland, Salo began his motorsport journey in go-karts before progressing through Formula Ford, Formula Three, and Formula 3000. He made his Formula One debut with the Lotus team in 1994, replacing Alessandro Zanardi for two races.

Salo drove for several teams throughout his F1 career, including Tyrrell (1995-1997), Arrows (1998), BAR (1999), Sauber (2000), and Toyota (2002). His most notable moment came in 1999 when he stood in for the injured Michael Schumacher at Ferrari for six races. During this stint, he achieved two podium finishes, including a second-place at the German Grand Prix where he ceded the win to teammate Eddie Irvine due to team orders. He also finished third at the Italian Grand Prix. His performance contributed significantly to Ferrari's constructors' championship win that year.

After retiring from Formula One, Salo continued his racing career in sports cars, achieving success by winning the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 2008 and 2009. He has also been involved in motorsport as a commentator for Finnish television and as a driver steward for Formula One races. Salo resides in Estonia with his wife and children.