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Steiner defends 'bad boy' Magnussen

Published on 12 May 2018 16:25
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By: Fergal Walsh

Kevin Magnussen's boss Guenther Steiner has once again defended the F1 'bad boy'. The Haas driver has been involved in a spate of recent run-ins with fellow drivers, including what the FIA called a "dangerous" block on Charles Leclerc in Barcelona practice.

"Everyone feels entitled to criticise Kevin at the moment," boss Gunther Steiner told Ekstra Bladet newspaper. "He went to the stewards who reprimanded him but he did not get a punishment so that explains the situation. There's no need to make more out of it.

"At the moment Kevin is the bad boy, so whenever he does the slightest thing, the stewards call him. But at least the knows the way up there now," Steiner smiled. "I think there's a snowball effect. At some point, people will get bored and no one will read about it anymore and drivers will stop complaining. I'm very easy about it and don't take it as badly as some others do.

Magnussen ended the second practice session from Barcelona inside the top ten, and while admitting there is still work to do, he is happy with the car's pace: "Good day today," he said on Friday. "Happy about the car performance. A few things to improve tomorrow but, generally, I think we are looking quite strong."

F1 News Kevin Magnussen Charles Leclerc

Replies (4)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I just dont get why everyone seem to think criticism is bad? Not all criticism is good, but Im willing to say that most criticism, I'd dare say at least 90% of it, has helped me improve, be it in my personal life, studies or job. It isnt bad to point out that K-Mag, despite being a good driver, is too aggressive and would benefit from cooling off. We're not asking him to stop being aggressive altogether, hell no, but less brute force would be nice. Criticism is necessary, and can be a very helpful tool if you choose to see it as one rather than something inherently negative (which Im not saying K-Mag or Steiner think, but the way he says "entitled" rubs me the wrong way).
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- May 12 2018 - 19:18
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Steiner did what he had to as team manager. But there's no snowball effect, if anything Magnussen is lucky that there isn't more hype around his incidents like there has been with Max. Magnussen's aggression has never been the problem. It's being dangerous, reckless, and appear to learn nothing from those mistakes. That being said, he is driving very well and hope he calms down. This could be his season to shine, maybe steal a podium.
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- May 12 2018 - 21:53
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I usually count those things as aggression, although at the very tip of the spectrum. But either way, he looks far more impressive than Grosjean to me, and that aint bad at all.
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  May 12 2018 - 22:54
websurfer

Posts: 52
Magnussen is "flying" at the moment. All this b*s*t about "bad boy" stop it. Magnussen is just envied, thats IMO the likely reason.
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- May 12 2018 - 22:53