Kevin Magnussen has had multiple ‘final’ System 1 race throughout his profession. However the 32-year-old’s grand prix profession lastly seems to be at an finish following his newest departure from Haas.
He ended his closing season fifteenth within the standings with lower than half the factors of his group mate Nico Hulkenberg. Each drivers loved extra aggressive seasons than final yr, nonetheless, as Haas efficiently tackled the tyre life drawback which plagued its chassis throughout 2023.
Hulkenberg was repeatedly the faster of the pair over a single flying lap, often capable of finding the previous couple of tenths of a second which makes such an enormous distinction within the midfield as of late. On common Magnussen was round 0.16 seconds off, which regularly meant he did not accompany his group mate into Q3 and began a number of locations behind him.
This had different knock-on results for Magnussen, notably early within the season when the group snatched at each level out there, having solely scored 12 and completed final the yr earlier than. When Hulkenberg ran greater up the order at tracks like Jeddah and Miami, Magnussen was deployed to delay his pursuers, which the group determined was one of the best ways he may contribute to their points-scoring on these events.
At occasions that introduced Magnussen into battle with different drivers, the upshot being he was concerned in incidents which led to penalties. These incidents plus others added as much as the purpose that he grew to become the primary F1 driver to obtain a one-race ban for amassing 12 endorsement factors on his licence.
That plus an enforced absence from the Brazilian Grand Prix because of sickness meant Magnussen’s closing season was inevitably patchy. There have been some optimistic moments from his later races, nonetheless, and he was taken out of rivalry for factors within the season finale, the place Haas strived in useless to beat Alpine to sixth within the standings, by not fault of his personal because of a sluggish pit cease.
However whereas Magnussen closing F1 season was not as poor as they numbers could point out, nor did it make a convincing case to Haas that he deserved a tenth yr on the high flight. Whereas the group was upset to be taught early within the season that they might lose Hulkenberg to Sauber, Magnussen’s deal was not renewed.
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The fireworks some predicted when Magnussen and Hulkenberg first teamed up at Haas final yr did not materialise. Haas group principal Ayao Komatsu has assembled an all-new line-up for his second yr in cost and a few ponder whether Esteban Ocon, who has had just a few run-is with previous group mates, and promising rookie Oliver Bearman would possibly take a look at the group’s administration relatively extra.
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Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Detrimental worth: Magnussen was quicker; Optimistic worth: Hulkenberg was quicker
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