Kevin Magnussen Q&A: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

We head to the season finale of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This is the team’s final chance of scoring points this season, does this track’s characteristics suit the VF-23, and how have you previously fared at the Yas Marina Circuit? 

“Abu Dhabi is the end of a long season for us, and I think we had some expectations for this year that we didn’t fulfil. I think the positive of this year was although we’ve been fighting in an uncompetitive car, we’ve always done the best we could, and we’ll be doing that at the last race in Abu Dhabi, but I’m quite happy to get to the end of the year.” 

 

There’s a tradition among some team members that at the end of each event, we share our high and low moment of the week. Looking back, can you share your favorite and most challenging moment of this season? 

“The highlight is always the good results. The three times I’ve scored points were very satisfying because we really earned those points. It hasn’t been a satisfying amount of points that we’ve scored but when you’ve been struggling, when you get there, it’s so much more satisfying. Sometimes you score a point, and you don’t really care because you didn’t maximize the potential and other times, you celebrate like a win because it’s been tough to earn.”

 

It’s been a long season for the team, do you have a message to those who have worked tirelessly throughout this year?

“The team in the garage always deserve an extra shoutout because they really work their butts off in all different types of conditions. Whether it’s 100 degrees outside, day or night, if they have to do a big set-up change or repair the car after a crash, they can’t take a break and they work tirelessly.”

 

There are only a few days left before the paddock enters into the winter break for some well-earned rest. What does your off-season look like – how much time off to unwind can you have before getting back into the groove of intense training ahead of pre-season testing? 

“Over the winter I’m going to enjoy just having a consistent schedule. Getting into training, the first thing I’m going to do when I’m back home is starting the training camp with my trainer. I’m looking forward to it, I’ve built a new gym in my house and it’s got everything I need, including a lot of CrossFit gear, so I’m going to gain 15 kilos of muscle for next year – I hope the car is lighter!”