» McLaren’s chief medico to quit F1

McLaren’s chief doctor, Aki Hintsa, will quit his post and leave Formula 1.

Finnish broadcaster MTV3 has reported that the Finn will return full-time to run his medical clinic in Switzerland.

“Travelling is proving to be a pretty big obstacle,” he is quoted as saying.

“Now, there are younger and better doctors, and I will focus on a different mission – life!” he laughed.

Hintsa has been a fixture in McLaren’s make-up for a number of years, and is well-regarded up and down the paddock – recently he was part of the team that treated Kimi Räikkönen’s debilitating back pain during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“Drivers will certainly see me in my clinic in the same way as before,” Hintsa said.

Hintsa’s daughter, Lotta, won this year’s Miss Finland competition to represent the country on the Miss Universe stage – she made headlines in 2006 after a brief fling with Lewis Hamilton.