Why Kevin Magnussen Stood Out in 2022

Kevin Magnussen the F1 Haas driver from Denmark has proved a hit in the 2022 racing season. Although currently ranking in 13th position, just below Ferarris Carlos Sainz in the final rankings, he has great potential with racing firmly in his blood, he is the son of the former 4-time Le Man’s winner and ex-Formula One driver, Jan Magnussen. He found his way into Formula 1 by way of McLaren’s young driver programme and then drove for McLaren in 2014. He then drove for the Renault team in 2016. But Magnussen spent his longest with the Haas team, where he has driven in 2017, 2018, 2019 and departed from the team at the end of the 2020 season. Re-joining the team for the 2022 where he replaced the Russian Rally Raid driver, Nikita Mazepin, who was dropped by the team following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He has been given a multi-year contract and has a bright future in Formula 1. 

What was 2022 Like For Magnussen?

In a Betway exclusive, Q&A, Karun Chandhok, the former Hispania Racing F1 Team and Team Lotus F1 driver and current broadcaster gave his view of the 2022 season when he was asked if there was a particular moment of the 2022 season that stood out to him. His reply gives a great example of what made Kevin Magnussen stand out in the last year. He replied detailing the surroundings of Magnussen’s spectacular and unexpected qualifying sprint in Brazil. And said, “it was all a bit dull. And then we had a bonkers qualifying, brilliant sprint race, and a superb Grand Prix. The whole weekend just came alive. That was a real highlight.” 

Bahrain too gave Magnussen a chance to shine which he took and ran with. Starting at 7th on the grid he scored a valuable top-five finish for the team. This was one of the Haas team’s few top-five wins and shows what the Danish driver can achieve. He also scored consecutive points for the team in Saudi Arabia. His 10th place finish at Silverstone paired nicely with his teammate, Mick Schumacher’s 8th place to give Hass its first result since 2019 where both drivers have finished the race and scored points. The pair made their point in Austria that even with engine difficulties, they were both driven to perform, scoring valuable points for the team.

Haas’s first pole position was brought to the team this year when Magnussen became only the second driver in the history of the sport to qualify in pole position for a non-Ferrari team using a Ferrari engine. This has not been achieved since Sebastian Vettles’s qualifier for Toro Rosso in 2008.

Keen eyes will be on Magnussun for next season where he stands a chance of elevating himself and the Haas team further than ever before in F1. If the driver and his team can improve on their results this year remains to be seen – and of course, everyone will be on the lookout to see what 2023 is like for him too!