Kevin Magnussen Q&A: Italian Grand Prix

Congratulations on confirming your race seat with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for next year, your seventh season with the team. Having your future secured with a large part of this campaign still to go, does it bring a renewed confidence behind the wheel that a driver otherwise might lack when contract negotiations are ongoing?

“I’m super thrilled to be continuing for another year with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. I’ve been with the organization for six years, next year will be my seventh season, and I very much feel that this team is my extended family. It’s my home in Formula 1 and we’ve had a lot of good times together so hopefully we can build on that next year. We’re having a tough time this season, there’s a lot of potential in the team and we’re heading in a good direction, we just need to improve on our car currently. I think we’re doing a lot of good work this year and I’m excited to see where we can take it for next season.” 

 

We move to Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. What is it about this track that puts it up there with other historic circuits, and is it one you like to battle on?

“I like Monza, it’s one of the iconic races of the year. It’s a historic track, an old track, it has a lot of character. It’s unique with the long straights and the low downforce that we run there, it’s a real slipstream race. It’s unique in every way – the way of your driving style, the way you race other people, and it has a fantastic atmosphere as well. With all the Italian team members at Haas, it’s also one of the races where we want to do a little bit extra as it’s a semi-home race in some ways.” 

It’s the second race where Formula 1 will be trialing the ‘alternative tire strategy’. What were your thoughts after Budapest and what changes could be made in your opinion to reduce the number of tires brought to a race without compromising on entertainment?

“I don’t think it made a big difference in Hungary, other than a little bit less running in practice. I think a good way of reducing the number of tires we use is probably to look at the qualifying format and look at doing a shoot-out, just one lap per driver, like back in the day. That would save four sets at least.” 

 

It’s the final European race before the calendar moves around the world for the final eight events of the season. How important is the European market to you personally, given its your home region?

 “I don’t usually call it the European market, but I think the most important races for us as a team are in America. Of course, it’s nice for me to do well at European races where there’s a Danish presence in the grandstands but in reality, racing for an American team means it’s really a joy to race in the US. I think I’ve scored points in the last two US races with Haas, in Austin last year and Miami this year, so it would be really nice to continue in Austin. I think in the European season we didn’t do as well as we did in the first half so I’m looking forward to getting to this second half of the season with some iconic tracks, and of course some races in the US.”