Formula 1: Magnussen Looks Back on Opportunities with Ferrari and Red Bull
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New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress): As Kevin Magnussen prepares to exit Formula 1 after the 2024 season, the Danish driver reflects on crucial moments throughout his career—decisions and circumstances that could have diverted him onto a different path. From his initial experience with McLaren to near-opportunities with top-tier teams such as Ferrari and Red Bull, Magnussen’s journey embodies a mix of unrealized potential and significant pride.
Magnussen made a striking entry into the F1 arena in 2014, debuting with McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix, where he astonishingly finished in third place. Nevertheless, that achievement marked the pinnacle of his rookie season. As the performance of McLaren began to decline, Magnussen faced difficulties in maintaining consistent results, ultimately losing his position to Fernando Alonso in 2015.
Looking back on his tenure at McLaren, Magnussen recognized the hurdles of joining the team during their challenging period. “It took McLaren a decade to regain the form they displayed in 2012,” Magnussen shared with Autosport. “I entered right at the start of that downward spiral. Had I joined two or three years earlier, the narrative would have been different.”
Magnussen also acknowledged that his inconsistency during race days contributed to his early challenges. “I was faster than Jenson Button in terms of pace, yet he outscored me in races. I needed to stay composed and finish races. Had I accomplished that, I believe the story would have been entirely different. I just needed to finish the races; you know, just take it a bit easier. It wasn’t that I needed to improve; I had to hold back a little, and then I think my performance in terms of consistency would have been different. I consider myself somewhat unlucky to have lost that seat that year, which significantly altered my career path,” he added.
After departing from McLaren, Magnussen served as a reserve driver in 2015 before making a comeback with Renault in 2016. His luck began to change when he joined Haas in 2017. By 2018, the team’s strong early-season results gave Magnussen hope for a better future. “It was my third year in F1. I was around 24... maybe 23? You know, everything was still feasible,” he remarked. “I held onto the belief that success was attainable, and moments arose when I felt we were heading in that direction.”
“In 2018, we had an excellent car in the first half of the season. Charles Leclerc had just entered F1 with Sauber, and his initial season wasn’t impressive. Mine was going well! Suddenly, Ferrari reached out. I found myself driving in their simulator, not for Haas, but for Ferrari. They were showing interest, and I thought, okay... excitement was building about where this could lead. But then Charles started to perform exceptionally well! And I heard nothing after that,” he recounted.
A pivotal moment arose after Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull in 2018. Magnussen’s management had discussions with Christian Horner, the boss of Red Bull, who mentioned a possible seat at Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri). However, Magnussen declined the offer—a decision he now questions.
“Christian said, ‘There’s nothing at Red Bull, but we can discuss Toro Rosso.’ I replied, ‘No, no, let’s pass on that,’ which I probably shouldn’t have done. The individual who took that Toro Rosso seat eventually moved to Red Bull,” he reflected.
As Magnussen prepares to conclude his F1 journey, he is open about his shortcomings but holds no regrets. “I could have achieved more, without a doubt. There were moments when I didn’t put in enough effort, but there were also times I worked extremely hard. I genuinely don’t think there’s anything I could have done to alter the trajectory of my career. I really doubt that,” he concluded.
