Kevin Magnussen Q&A: Hungarian Grand Prix

Round 13 of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship takes the pinnacle of motorsport to Hungary. The track – close to Budapest city center – is sweltering in July, it’s notoriously difficult to overtake on and the cars run a high downforce aero set-up. How do you expect the VF-22 to manage in such conditions? 

“It’s going to be unbelievably hot by the looks of it and Hungary is a tough track, there’s not much time to relax with the short straights. It’s physically a tough race and with the heat that we’re having in Europe, it’s going to be extra tough. I think the car is going to be fine – I expect so any way – and it’s been good on a big variety of different tracks.”

 

Your best result in Hungary with Haas came in 2018, where you scored seventh place. Is there something specific about the track that you like and does it having many of the same features as a karting track help those muscle reflexes from years gone by?

“I like the track, and it does have a go-kart track feel because it’s always turning, it’s never long straights. It’s a fun track, it’s difficult to overtake on, so you’ll want to qualify well if you can. That’s definitely the most important element of the weekend.”

How would you sum up the first half of the season for yourself and the team? Is this where you expected to be at the beginning of the season and can you share your favorite and least fond memory from this half of the season?

“The first half of the season has been a lot of fun. Of course, I had no expectations because I didn’t know I was going to be racing, but it’s been good. We’ve had a good car and there’s been times where we didn’t score the points that we could’ve when we had some bad luck in a string of races, but recently it’s seeming that we’ve been a bit more lucky, and we’ve had a bit more fortune. My best memory would be the first race I would say, not only because it was so surprising to come back but also because we got a great result. Worst? I don’t have any.”

 

It’s the final event before the summer break where the paddock gets some well-deserved rest before the second leg of the season. What’s the first thing you’re going to do after the race and what have you got planned for your break?

“I’m definitely going to go sailing in Denmark with my family and get on the water, relax and switch off from racing.”