Kevin Magnussen Q&A: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Coming back from a three-week break – what did you get up to and how did you spend your time away from the track?

“I spent my time in Denmark and the three weeks were great for really getting into training. It’s not often during the season that we get such a continuous period of time where you can train routinely every day and get into it. That’s been great and of course just spending time with my family recharging the batteries.”

 

The Australian Grand Prix was one to remember for many reasons. With your race coming to a premature end, was it still satisfying to see Nico score his first points for the team and show the potential of the VF-23?

“My race wasn’t great, of course, not finishing but on the other hand, Nico scored some good points and that’s really great. When you don’t have a good race yourself, your team-mate can make up for it and we want to finish as high as we can in the Constructors’ Championship and improve on our P8 last year. That’s what it’s going to take all through the year, both of us delivering on a consistent basis.”

We head to the Baku City Circuit for Round 4 of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Championship. The team hasn’t scored around the City of Winds since 2017, when you brought it home in seventh, do you think the VF-23 is the car that will break that streak? 

“I hope we can score some points this year. Last year, we were in the running towards the end of the race but then my engine broke down. So, last year we had the pace but didn’t finish it off because of reliability and hopefully this year we can have a strong weekend again and not have any issues. I’m positive that we can be strong.” 

 

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the first Sprint event of the season. You managed to score in every Sprint weekend last year, is there a reason you think you and the team suit a more fast-paced format? 

“I don’t think there’s any particular reason we scored points every time but of course I’m hoping we can keep that streak going, that’s the aim. I think we have good pace in the car at the moment and hopefully we can capitalize on that in both the Sprint and the race.”

 

Formula 1 and the FIA has approved a revised format for separate qualifying sessions for the Sprint and the Grand Prix. Are you in favor of mixing up a traditional weekend format or do you prefer the variety that three practice sessions brings to fine tuning a car’s set-up?

“I think it’s good that we get two qualifying sessions because it means that you can go for it a little more in the Sprint. There’s not the extra penalty of having to start at the back for the race on Sunday if you don’t finish, even though of course you want to. There’s a little more reward in the risk versus reward ratio for taking risks and that’s good for the show, good for us drivers and it’s more fun.”