Kevin Magnussen features on F1 Beyond the Grid podcast where the Dane speaks on return to F1, fitness, family life, competition and more.
The Beyond the Grid podcast had Magnussen this week as its guest. He starts off with a small amount of smalltalk about his F1 comeback with Haas where he admits that it still does not feel or seem real. He states that he felt his Grand Prix adventure was over when he had the “year out”. He partly says it still feels like a dream.
He adds that he feels very lucky to have the chance again and talks about having already had several seasons in the sport saying he already felt lucky to have been there that long and it had been quite an achievement to have had that length of time in the Sport. When he lost his drive at the end of 2020, he looked back reflecting that he was very fortunate to have reached F1 in the first place.
Magnussen then goes on to talk about the scenario around Nikita Mazepin losing the Haas drive. He did not think anything of it at the time, saying he did reckon he would get the drive. Says he didn’t leave on bad terms in 2020 and once more was thankful for his F1 chance saying they were the first team to give him longevity in his Grand Prix career.
Regarding the whole situation, Magnussen says people were asking him before the announcement if he would be the replacement. Of his year out of F1, he says he missed the sport as they switched the talks to his 2021 season in IMSA. He felt it was racing for fun and he thought it brought him back to basics from a racing viewpoint.
He noted that when Guenther Steiner contacted him, he immediately said yes and went on to talk some personal stuff about his wife and daughter and bringing her to races. He adds Steiner advised him that the team had sacrificed a lot in 2021 for this season.
When talking about the car, Magnussen feels they are less physical compared to 2020. The new tyres he feels requires a different driving style. He says it will be another two months before he is in total physical condition as then then spoke about fitness at length, taking Jeddah as an example.
He feels the team at Haas are motivated to do well and speaks highly of teammate Mick Schumacher, praising him greatly in all facets. He reckons he isn’t the team leader, doesn’t feel entitled to it despite his experience. He states the team is very balanced and that his relationship with Schumacher is very positive.
Outside of the sport, Magnussen talks about family life and F1 not being the most important issue in his career anymore, but hopes to be in Formula One for many more seasons. He didn’t dwell much when he was not retained and that he quickly moved on when he was not part of Formula One in 2021.
More on family, Magnussen talks once more about becoming a father and his daughter’s premature child birth. Regarding life outside F1, he reflected on the nine races last year but was delighted to go to Daytona, Watkins Glen etc. He spoke highly of his father and compares and contrasts his time to his fathers, particularly IMSA racing.
He then went on to speak of racing Le Mans 24 hours with Jan, saying it was a privilege. It was interesting to compare data with his dad as a team mate at Le Mans and the way that they both did things on track. He learnt about his fathers data when comparing and contrasting and the way Jan did things compared to himself.
Coming back to Haas, Magnussen says for 2022 a podium would be a dream. He wants to be in a close fight with the other teams outside Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes. He feels Formula One is a better environment for the smaller teams now with the cost cap amongst that. Hopes and thinks Haas can keep up the bigger teams.
He still has dreams and ambitions to succeed successfully in Formula One advising as he has returned to Formula One has ignited his ambitions. Having driven in IMSA in 2021, the USA has become massive as Americans he fallen in love with Formula One again due to the success of Netflix.
Here’s F1 Beyond the Grid podcast episode of Kevin Magnussen: https://audioboom.com/posts/8065683-kevin-magnussen-a-no-fear-f1-comeback
Nigel Mansell: https://audioboom.com/posts/8061002-nigel-mansell-world-champion-through-the-pain
Susie Wolff: https://audioboom.com/posts/8056404-susie-wolff-racer-role-model-risk-taker
Pat Fry: https://audioboom.com/posts/8052467-tech-boss-pat-fry-35-years-at-the-top-of-f1
Carlos Sainz: https://audioboom.com/posts/8047732-carlos-sainz-ready-to-win-with-ferrari
