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Kevin Magnussen believes 2017 has been his strongest season for races, but one of his toughest in terms of qualifying. In his debut season for the Haas team, he managed 5 points finishes including a 7th place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, making it his most successful season since his debut at McLaren in 2014.
Magnussen edged out teammate Grosjean 7-5 in two car race finishes but was comfortably beaten in the qualifying head to head 12-7. Despite finishing ahead more often the Dane was still edged out 28-19 in terms of points.
Magnussen suggested that his qualifying struggles may have been down to having an inherently more oversteery car than he would like: “I think it’s been my best year, especially on Sundays. This year hasn’t been my strongest year in qualifying. This car is a bit oversteery on entry to the corners and that’s not my preferred balance in the car. I struggle a little bit when I have oversteer on entry.
"I can handle mid-corner and exit, and also in high-speed, but if I can’t brake and enter the corner with a stable rear I struggle a little bit so that’s been a little bit of a problem this year. It calms down in the race, when you fill up the car with fuel.
The 25-year-old went on to explain that the softer tyres used in qualifying may also have contributed to his struggles and singled it out as an area of improvement for 2018: "Often, it’s worse on ultra-soft than super-soft and in the race, you often run with the harder compound and it helps.
"That is something I need to personally work on for next year, to try and dial in the car more from the beginning when pre-season testing whereas this year I spent a bit of time trying to find out where my problem is and then you start working on that problem, next year, I will have a better understanding and be able to hit the ground running."
Elliot Smith
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
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Replies (2)
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Posts: 8,527
I was impressed by the way he compared to Grosjean, most would consider Grosjean to be better. But I think Magnussen need to calm down a bit. Hopefully Haas will be able to continue to stay in the midfield for the next season.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Magnussen (like Grosjean) has more of an attitude (and image) problem rather than a driving problem. He doesn't get the credit he deserves when he drives well because he is so often embroiled in controversy of his own making. Grosjean is similar but with more talent, less crashing, and more whining.