Kevin Magnussen is experiencing his second Formula 1 career differently, which has mainly to do with his time out – Why he can enjoy driving more now
Actually, Kevin Magnussen had already prepared for a career outside of Formula 1, when the call came from Haas shortly before the start of the 2022 season. The team was looking for a replacement after parting ways with Nikita Mazepin – and brought back Magnussen, who had already driven for Haas from 2017 to 2020.
But this time it was different for various reasons, as the Dane revealed on ‘Beyond The Grid’. “I feel very relaxed and good. After the year I spent out of F1, I have a new perspective now,” says the 29-year-old.
“A lot of things have happened in my life. I feel different somehow. I’m more relaxed and I can enjoy it more.” Indeed, he says he can now, in his second Formula One career, drive without “any worries or fears. “
Magnussen no longer puts so much pressure on himself
“There is a lot of pressure in Formula One. As a young Formula 1 driver, I always knew that if I didn’t perform, I would be out,” Magnussen looks back.
“And I didn’t know what life would be like without Formula 1. Now I’ve tried it out and it’s actually not too bad,” the returnee admits. “Last year I had a great time, so I’m not as anxious as I used to be. I’m just enjoying it and having fun with it. “
This also goes hand in hand with the fact that he no longer sees the goal of becoming world champion at some point as ultimate: “Again, I’ve closed that chapter and reached a point where I’ve accepted that it’s not going to happen. “
And now that I’m back, I just take it as a day to day thing. I try to focus on work, have fun and give it everything I can. I don’t feel like I have this huge weight of expectation on my shoulders,” Magnussen said, describing his situation.
Dream of title is no longer decisive
“I would like to be Formula One champion. It’s still a dream, but I don’t think I have the same expectation. If it happens, I would be over the moon. And I’m here in this sport now. So anything is possible. But I don’t feel that weight on my shoulders.”
Rather, he said, he is all the more grateful today to be competing in Formula One at all. “Sometimes when you lose something, you realise what you had in it,” says the Dane.
“When I retired last year, I looked back on my Formula One career and was suddenly very grateful. I was grateful before too, but not in the same way. I was more frustrated about a lot of things,” Magnussen admits.
At the time, he says, he focused mainly on what he didn’t manage to do: “On the fact that I didn’t win, instead of being happy about being in Formula One. I couldn’t really appreciate it. So things have changed a little bit. “