The new one is an old friend. Kevin Magnussen is back at the Haas Formula 1 racing team – for several years. What makes the Dane special and what does the Haas comeback coup mean for Mick Schumacher?
When the call came from Haas, Kevin Magnussen was surprised himself. The Dane had been out of the Formula 1 circus for two years, and the door to the premier class was almost closed. Especially since Magnussen is now 29 years old and doesn’t bring millions with him like Guanyu Zhou or the recently fired Nikita Mazepin.
But then this door to Formula 1 suddenly swung open again, wide open. This was made possible by the short-term separation of the racing team from the Russian main sponsor Uralkali and the associated expulsion of Mazepin. And suddenly the experience and history of “K-Mag” became his trump card.
Because the American team around CEO Gene Haas and team boss Günther Steiner had to improvise after the double from Uralkali/Mazepin. Time was of the essence, the test drives started on Thursday and the new season will start next week. The profile of the newcomer was clearly defined: Above all, he should be experienced and add value to the team. While Magnussen was initially seen as an unrealistic outsider for the post, that option became more realistic with each passing day. For Haas, he was the perfect man in this emergency situation. He has 119 GP appearances under his belt, he knows the whole team. Then came the call.
Wires never broken
Magnussen celebrated his most successful Formula 1 time in the ranks of the American team. After initial positions at McLaren (from 2014) and a one-year flying visit to Renault, Magnussen moved on to Haas in 2017. And he got along well with the rather small and informal team – even if the line came to an end sooner than he would have liked.
In 2020, team boss Steiner informed both Magnussen and Romain Grosjean early on that Haas wanted to rely on two younger talents. Mazepin and Mick Schumacher. The rookies should spend a year gaining experience for 2022 – the starting point of the new rule era. Then the new Haas attack should occur.
Despite the disappointment, Magnussen left on good terms. He is said to have a relaxed and familiar relationship with Steiner. There was no nightmare, even if Mazepin’s performance was downright inviting. “The wires between Günther Steiner and Magnussen never broke off. You could see that in the emotional farewell back then,” explains RTL/ntv reporter Felix Görner.
Two years away from Formula 1
The return now is a big surprise, even the Dane admits. “I was surprised when the call came, but I was also very happy. I wanted to realign my career, but I always said – I don’t rule out a return to Formula 1,” said Magnussen about the new Haas- Deal.
After the premature F1 exit, he moved on and drove other series. Magnussen competed for Chip Ganassi in the US sports car series IMSA and was scheduled for Peugeot at the World Endurance Championship. He also jumped in at an Indy race. He even drove the 24-hour race of Le Mans alongside his father Jan Ellegaard Magnussen, who once also competed in Formula 1.
An advantage: His good relationships with Peugeot and Ganassi enabled him to exit the current contracts quickly. Apparently he was in such a good negotiating position that he got a multi-year contract with Haas.
“Outspoken, cheeky, fearless, tough as nails”
The return campaign also has an impact on Mick Schumacher. The season could be very different from 2021, not only because of the new rules and cars.
The Dane will be able to give Schumi jr important tips, but will also make the internal team duel much more exciting and heat it up. Because unlike Mazepin, Magnussen will also seriously challenge the German on the track. In qualifying and in the race. In case of doubt, the deal also makes Schumacher stronger.
“Magnussen is the type of crispbread, a nutcracker in duels,” Görner describes the Dane’s racing style and recalls an unforgettable battle of words between Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg, when it went a little below the belt. Exactly that shows how he ticks, says Görner. “Outspoken, cheeky, fearless, tough as nails, in duels and also in team duels”.
He already had tough duels with his last F1 colleague Romain Grosjean, after which both were eliminated. “That shows his uncompromising nature,” says the RTL expert, drawing a comparison with Jarno Trulli, who had the reputation of being very difficult to overtake. “Magnussen is something like the trulli of our time.”
Magnussen won’t back down
The conclusion: “Magnussen is a tough one for Mick Schumacher.” Görner is certain: the 29-year-old will become Schumi jr. Cause problems down the road and don’t back down. “Maybe he’s even spurred on by the big name Schumacher to show the boy what a seasoned Formula 1 driver is.”
He sees Magnussen’s strength in his great experience and maturity. “He’s someone who can get used to new cars and regulations very quickly.” And that’s exactly what’s important for the Haas team. With the completely renewed car, the racing team is dependent on feedback from the drivers. Especially Haas, who had technical problems during the first tests and missed the start of the second test due to cargo problems. All the more important: adjust quickly and improve the VF-22.
Which brings us back to Magnussen. He got his best overall result in Formula 1 in Haas in 2018. Two fifth places and eleven places in the top ten gave him ninth place overall. A real success for the small team. Haas is still a long way from that, but the hope is there. Kevin Magnussen embodies her.
Emmanuel Schneider