Kevin Magnussen has insisted he has no regrets over his “wild” and “thrilling” return to Components 1 as he nears the top of his time with Haas.
The Dane was dropped by the staff on the finish of the 2020 season and made the swap to sportscar racing with Chip Ganassi, just for destiny to offer him an F1 reprieve.
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine spelling the top for Nikita Mazepin at Haas, then-team principal Guenther Steiner turned to Magnussen to fill the the vacant house at quick discover forward of the 2022 marketing campaign.
Since then, the previous McLaren and Renault driver secured his first pole place – albeit on a Friday forward of the Brazilian Grand Prix dash that yr – although with performances dropping off this season, he’ll full his time with the staff on the finish of the yr.
Requested by Autosport in an unique interview whether or not he regretted returning to F1, Magnussen replied: “No, no, no, actually, I do not.
“I do not remorse it. It has been enjoyable and it is enjoyable attempting one thing so sudden. It was a wild journey, as a result of I actually closed that chapter, fully, mentally closed it, had a child and fully began that subsequent part of my life with my spouse and my household.
“Then – growth – again once more, and that… this complete expertise has been actually thrilling for me and my household.”
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-22, is greeted by his staff on the end
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Magnussen’s first weekend again noticed him rushed into competitors with an absence of pre-season testing below his belt, but he managed to drag a fifth-place end out to underline his talent stage.
On his emotions throughout that weekend, he defined: “I used to be sitting on a seashore with a drink in my hand, fully not in a Components 1 mindset and [then] out of the blue panicking.
“From the seashore to the airport bam, bam, bam, after which I used to be within the paddock, sunburned, like fully not in just like the mindset. That complete transition was simply wild and thrilling.”
While Magnussen impressed alongside Mick Schumacher in his first yr again, the return of Nico Hulkenberg overshadowed his outcomes final time period and that type has continued into the present marketing campaign.
“That is to be anticipated if you step into Components 1,” Magnussen stated of the more durable occasions. “I used to be already an skilled Components 1 driver once I got here again, I knew what I used to be going again to.
“Nothing was actually a shock, so I knew. I knew there could be bumps and, I additionally knew it wasn’t going to be simply easy crusing and I knew there could be a honeymoon part after which it will form of, you recognize… all this I had, I had all of it form of thought via. It is all a part of it.”
