Formula One legend Mika Hakkinen brought a supercar to Holyrood as he launched a festive campaign urging people to never drink and drive.

The two-time F1 champion is calling on people to back the #JOINTHEPACT campaign, a global initiative encouraging motorists never to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.

Hakkinen, who leads the campaign globally for Diageo and Johnnie Walker, brought the Johnnie Walker Caparo T1 supercar to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday for the launch of the campaign in Scotland.

He said: “I am delighted to be back in Scotland with the Join The Pact campaign, particularly at this time of year as people prepare for Christmas and New Year, which I know is a major celebration for Scots.

Mika Häkkinen
Formula One legend Mika Hakkinen is urging people never to drink and drive (Jane Barlow/PA)

“We want everyone to enjoy the festive season safely and responsibly, and that means never drinking and driving.

“We want to reach as many drivers as we can in Scotland with the campaign.”

So far in 2018, more than seven million people around the world have signed up to #JOINTHEPACT and more than 14 million people in total have made their commitment since 2008.

Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The anti-drink drive message is a crucial one all year round but it is particularly important at this time of year as people prepare to celebrate the festive season.

“That’s why I’m delighted to support the Join The Pact campaign and to welcome Mika Hakkinen and Diageo to the Scottish Parliament to help encourage people in Scotland to never drink and drive.

“Formula One is enormously popular and it is a great initiative to use that power to reach as many people as possible throughout Scotland with the never drink and drive message.”

Mika Hakkinen
A cross-party group of MSPs attended the launch at the Scottish Parliament (Jane Barlow/PA)

As part of the Scottish campaign, Hakkinen will also visit prominent spots around the capital with the car over the next few days, including the Ghillie Dhu in Rutland Place and Edinburgh Airport, where the vehicle will be on display over the weekend.

Diageo chairman David Cutter said: “We are very proud of the impact we’ve made around the world with the Join The Pact campaign, with over 14 million people making the pledge to never drink and drive.

“We’re delighted to bring the campaign to the home of our Scotch whisky distilling business and to support the efforts of the Scottish Government to tackle drink driving here in Scotland.

“We would like to thank parliamentarians of all parties for joining us to promote this vital public safety message during the festive season.”