Hi, Kevin Magnussen. Happy to be back into racing after the summer break?
“Absolutely! I love racing, but I also appreciate the few breaks I get between races. With 24 Grands Prix from March to December, all around the world, sometimes three weekends in a row, it’s obviously difficult to find time to immerse myself with the family. So, I really enjoying doing that these days.
After the race at Spa, I went straight to southern Spain with my wife, Louise, and our two daughters, Laura and Agnes, my in-laws, my brother-in-law and his wife and their children. A classic family trip with sun, pool, and beach! It has been fantastic to completely unwind and think about something other than Formula 1, and it has also given me the opportunity to recharge my batteries for the rest of the season.”
Let’s talk Formula 1! What are your thoughts on the first half of the 2024 season?
“There have certainly been challenges, but the fact is that we are currently holding seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship, which no one dared hope for at the beginning of the years. We come straight from a season where we finished last, and the fact that we’ve been able to elevate ourselves to such a position is fantastic.
Now, we have a strong car, our upgrades have worked, and all that gives us a natural reason to go into each weekend with a positive mind. Even though in some areas it has been a frustrating season, I think we have gotten something out of all the hard work. The problems we struggled with last year are much smaller, and we are much more often in the game for points.
Sounds good! We can’t avoid mentioning that you’ve faced criticism this year, particularly after the Miami Grand Prix, where your aggressive driving helped your teammate score points. How do you personally handle that kind of criticism from the media?
“It’s part of the job. In our position, we are naturally more exposed to criticism than many others are at their work. When things go wrong, we are told about it, and there are many opinions about one’s work. No one is unaffected, but personally, I have come a long way with experience. I am better at navigating it than when I was a younger driver.
That said, it’s never pleasant. As a Formula 1 driver, you spend an enormous amount of time away from your family, there are many sacrifices in this business, and when things go badly on the track, you are even more affected. Ironically, I find motivation in the fact that I’m competing in Formula 1, and that I have a place on the grid.”
You have built up a reputation for being a fantastic team player, but you have also been called a “bad boy”…
“Yes, that’s true. And the latter I mostly want to brush aside. Yes, my driving style can be aggressive, but thar applies to any race driver. It’s a natural part of fighting on the track, it’s a natural part of our instinct. Last year I didn’t get any penalty points. Five of the 12 penalty points I have received this year were after tough battles where I had to fight and help secure points for the team. Of course, I could have backed off and avoided being excluded from a race. But that’s just not how it works.
I believe it’s better to hold on and take the risk. Again, instincts can’t be changed. And I didn’t lose sleep knowing that I was a few points away from a race ban—which I did receive after getting the two license points in Monza. I had to stay home from Baku, give my car to another driver, and watch the race from my home in Denmark, which was a weird experience. But now we’re back on track, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.
Let’s talk about Haas F1 Team. It’s now a reality that you won’t continue with the team after 2024. What are your thoughts on that?
“First and foremost, I want to say that I am proud and incredibly grateful to have served Haas F1 Team almost from the beginning, and my focus remains on continue to performing optimally for the team. Bu the end of this year, I have been with the team for seven seasons, which is a lot in this sport. It’s a group of fantastic and incredibly talented people, almost like a family, whom I will naturally miss. There have certainly been ups and downs, but overall, I think we have achieved some great things together.
Of course, it feels unfortunate to leave the team now, when I think we have momentum and are starting to see the fruits of our hard work, but that’s the game. Some have asked me if I understand the decision, but I don’t think you necessarily need to understand or agree with it. It’s Formula 1, that’s how it works, and you just got to move on.”
While there are still a few open seats on the grid, do you also consider a future outside of Formula 1?
“I keep all doors open. Formula 1 is a fantastic place to be, and if you have a chance to be here, you need to do that. I’ve had a few chances, but you don’t get a chance every day to race in F1 so it’s natural, that everyone tries to stay here. But it’s not entirely up to me, and if I do end up leaving Formula 1, I have the benefit of having done it before. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, but I’ve always believed that racing outside of Formula 1 is also awesome.
I enjoyed racing sportscars in the American IMSA championship in 2021 where I also experienced IndyCars. Honestly, there are so many other cool series I would also like to explore. But again, we still got races ahead the season, and my situation has not changed my dedication to my team and my sport.”
Keep up with all Kevin’s race recaps for the season here.
