Kevin Magnussen Q&A: Austrian Grand Prix

Round 10 of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the Austrian Grand Prix, will be the second Sprint of the season. The opening Sprint event in Baku in April proved to be a scoreless affair compared to last season where the team scored at every Sprint round. What lessons were learned and is a Sprint still an exciting challenge to have in a busy calendar?

“I’m looking forward to another Sprint. I like Sprint events, there’s more stuff happening throughout the weekend and the pressure is on straight away after the first practice. You’re really performing and battling for important stuff.

"Even FP1 has way more pressure because it’s the only practice you get so you have to find your rhythm and hit your marks early on and quickly to maximize your rhythm for qualifying. It's just a more focused and more fast-paced weekend, and I quite enjoy that.” 

Your best result around the Red Bull Ring came in 2018 with a fifth-place finish, what do you like about the circuit and does its picturesque backdrop play a part in its charm for drivers just as it does for staff and fans visiting Spielberg?  

“I don’t know why we’ve been strong here over the years I’ve been with Haas, but it’s a fun circuit. Sometimes there are these circuits you tend to go well at and hopefully we can keep that trend going.” 

 

We now move into a stretch of double-headers until the enforced summer shutdown. Does the steady flow of races and the location we’re going to excite you? 

“I always enjoy the European season, the tracks are ones that all drivers know very well and it’s all just familiar surroundings. There’s a special atmosphere around the European races so I’m going to enjoy it and try and make the most of it.”