Formula 1 | Magnussen has been racing ‘a bit more pressure’ in America with Haas F1

Haas has now lost 7th place in the constructors’ standings – Aston Martin F1 has moved up – and hasn’t scored a point in years, namely the Austrian Grand Prix.

In Austin, in front of Gene Haas, at home, Haas will have a good chance to get back into the forward gear.

The Texas circuit is precisely the one most admired by Kevin Magnussen – who, like many drivers, prefers a varied register of inspiration, borrowing in particular from Silverstone. Even though Dan is already wary of bumps!

“I don’t think I’ve really developed in my approach at this track. It’s a big circuit, it’s very bumpy, so a few years when we get there it’s going to be very bumpy, the circuit changes a little bit in that way. »

“It’s a great circuit, especially sector 1 – it’s very fast, the SS are really some of the best corners in F1. There’s a few too many corners for my liking, but the layout is really nice, so I can’t wait to get back there. »

Another signature corner of this circuit is the first: a left hairpin at the end of a terrifying climb!

“It’s a unique turn. It’s very wide towards the apex, you can’t really see the track because it’s on a hill and it’s very wide. The apex is very narrow, so it creates opportunities for different lanes. There’s also a great overtaking opportunity here as we pass a DRS zone. . »

“There aren’t that many wide corners. Because you’re going over that hill, it’s very easy to get the tires stuck there, but when you brake, you’re on that hill, so you brake really hard. »

“After Turn 1, you’re down those aces again, and that’s where it gets a little trickier to follow another car. If you’re in front, it’s much easier to keep your advantage later because of the high-speed corners. »

This Grand Prix is ​​also special for Haas because, of course, it’s the home race for the team (there will now also be Las Vegas and Miami). Too much pressure for Kevin Magnussen?

“It’s exciting to be back at our home race, although you could say we had another home race with Miami before some Grands Prix; but I think COTA is a little bit special. We have Haas Mountain, which is an event that puts a little extra pressure on us because it’s our home race. We want to get a good result.”

Since 2012 (ten years hence), F1 has been at the forefront of recapturing America in Austin, thanks to Netflix or the Miami and Las Vegas Grand Prix today.

This resurgence of popularity was already seen in Austin last year, Kevin Magnussen continues.

“From the beginning, COTA was very special because there were so many people there. I don’t think it was a sold-out event at first, but it was definitely last year, and you can really see how Formula 1 has grown in America since then. There’s always that feeling of American motorsport – you’re at home. Camper vans and large trailers can be found – and if you go to see MSA, IndyCar and others, Americans go to the races. »

“At the same time, all the fans who didn’t go to the camp are going to be there for the event on Sunday… I think a lot of them are new fans, which is great. In Miami, there seemed to be a lot of new fans, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Formula 1 race on TV, and I expect the same in Las Vegas. It’s now part of Formula 1 and Netflix has really put the sport on the map and that’s great. »