Kevin Magnussen’s dream weekend in Bahrain was “better and better”, he qualified for P7 and then exceeded P5 in the race.
Haas has not had such a race in years – this was her fifth top-five finish – and was a true feelgood story after an unsuccessful 2021 season.
The Danish driver was stopped a week and a half ago and had very little time to learn the car for the first race of 2022.
In the early stages he enjoyed a battle with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Magnussen told Sky F1: “I was able to get on the outside of him (Hamilton) on Round 1. I was focused on being at the top of that mid-pack crew and I think I got to the top after Round 1. .
“I mean, I had some people behind me who were a little faster, I think [George] Russell and Red Bull. Then a few mistakes followed with a lock-up where I lost a position and as I stood at the top of the midfield, I just got in rhythm and kept at it.
With the drama unfolding in the Red Bull garage, none of their cars finished, this meant that Magnussen had a very healthy start to the season, finishing fifth.
JO KEVIN JO
P5, P5, P5 P5
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW 👊👊👊# HaasF1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/S3PVaOlqaw
– Haas F1 Team (@ HaasF1Team) March 20, 2022
“It was crazy. I feel like I keep saying the same thing all week because it’s getting better and every time it happens – I still can ‘t believe it,” he said, reflecting on the last two weeks.
“And then back to the F1 car, get out of the garage, qualify with that result and then nail in the race.
“The team deserves it so much. They have worked so hard in recent years and they have bitten a lot last year because they were focused on this year and have a good result today.
Magnussen’s team-mate, Mick Schumacher, finished just outside the points in P11, still a big improvement from last year.
This is Magnussen’s second comeback on the F1 paddock, after his last exit in 2020, and according to Dan, it feels better than ever.
“I am a passionate racer and F1 is the best motorsport in the world – best engineers, drivers, teams and best cars. Everyone wants to be there, so if you have a chance, you have to take it,” he said.
“I came to F1 in 2014, then it fell out. I came back in 2016, thought that was unreal, then went back in 2020 and thought it was. And now I’m in the top five again. – it’s surreal.
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