Kevin Magnussen still hopes to be in Formula 1 next year. His drive at Haas F1 seems under threat, as the team is expected to confirm Ollie Bearman soon and is still looking to sign Esteban Ocon. He says he is in talks with other teams.
“I’m an active participant, I’m in the running for some shuttlecocks” Magnussen said. “I think it’s a good thing and everything is very open at the moment. I think there’s a good chance that the established guys will end up getting a ride anyway. From my point of view, there’s a lot of potential in this team.”
“It feels like there’s always been potential at times, the highs have been very high, you look at the best races we’ve had, the best races of any year, it was quite Good.”
“But there’s never been a podium, and there’s never been a season where everything has worked and the consistency has been good. You feel there’s potential and you see the talent within the team and almost unrealized potential, I think it’s very rewarding to be a part of that.”
The Dane admits, however, that he would have regrets about his career in F1 if it were to end at the end of the season: “But on the other hand, it’s also a long journey, I’ve been in midfield almost every year I’ve been in Formula 1, and I’m 31.”
“I think I’m starting to think that if I finished my motorsport career having only done mid-table F1, I might feel a bit empty in a way.”
“I watch some of these races, Le Mans, Indy 500, and I see the guys winning, they look damn happy, you know, and I think luckily there’s a good life outside of racing too. Formula 1. I’ve been part of it a few times when I wasn’t in Formula 1, and it’s a great life, but I would say there’s a bit of pressure.”
A better life outside of F1?
Magnussen is not afraid of a future without Formula 1 in his life, on the contrary. The Danish driver is now a father of two, and his family life is also a priority that he will be happy to put forward if his career in the premier class is interrupted.
“When I think about my future, I don’t feel that if I’m not in F1 my life will be bad. I think a bit the opposite, there is a significant cost to being in Formula 1 and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it because it’s 24 races, being a father, it’s a high cost.”
“It’s not just these 24 races, it’s also many other things and it fills your year 100% and it’s not easy to do anything else. And I’m passionate about many things, in particularly in motorsport, but also outside.”
“The dream has always been to be successful in Formula 1, to win races and championships in Formula 1, but after 10 years in the sport without really achieving that, maybe it’s starting to get old.”
Magnussen enjoys honest discussions with his boss, Ayao Komatsu: “What I appreciate most, even though I’m not part of his day-to-day management, is that he’s very open, very honest, I feel like I can trust him. He doesn’t hide the fact that he also talks to other drivers, he’s open about it and I appreciate that much more.”
“In the past I’ve had team leaders who weren’t honest and said yes to me, which I don’t like, but I think it’s part of the game. I’m not surprised that “He’s talking to other drivers, he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t, I appreciate his openness and let’s see what happens.”
NB: We will do a special live this evening at 7:30 p.m. on Nextgen-Auto.com and our Twitch channel on the announcements concerning Gasly and Stroll, the impact of Alpine F1’s offer to Carlos Sainz on the transfer market and the Verstappen’s position clarified. We will possibly discuss other big news that would break during this “media” day in Austria.
