Breaking news
Formula 1 Japanese GP
Magnussen: Suzuka weekend derailed by "embarrassing" crash
Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen said he "showed everyone what not to do" with his "quite embarrassing" qualifying crash, which preceded a Japanese Grand Prix that "went south".
Scott Mitchell
Published: Oct 14, 2019, 9:07 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Magnussen was eliminated early in qualifying on Sunday morning when he lost the rear of his car on the exit of the final chicane and crashed through the kink before the finish line.
Haas repaired his car and fitted a new gearbox in time for the race, which took place just a few hours later because of the unusual schedule at Suzuka enforced by Typhoon Hagibis, but Magnussen finished down in 17th.
Asked by Motorsport.com if the high winds were a factor in his qualifying crash, Magnussen said: “Yeah, I went on the power and had full throttle, and then suddenly I got wheelspin and spun around, which was unfortunate and quite embarrassing really. But s**t happens.”
He added: “It was still an issue [in the race] but at least you know what to expect.
“This was on the first lap and I just didn’t expect to get such a big gust of wind there right in the tail. I showed everyone what not to do.”
When asked by Motorsport.com to talk through the race, Magnussen said he was “fairly happy” to move up from 19th and run as high as 11th.
However, after just two points finishes in 12 races and only four all season, the Dane was left to rue another missed opportunity of a grand prix.
“It just didn’t work out with pitstops and strategy,” said Magnussen, who was among the earliest scheduled stoppers and switched to hard tyres but had to pitting again five laps from the end.
“It wasn’t terrible in terms of tyres and pace, not like previous races where we’ve been hopeless because of whatever.
“If we hooked everything up, and I started where I should have and got as good a start as I did, then I would have been in a much better position and probably with a better pitstop and strategy we could have scored points.
“So, it’s frustrating.”
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-19, leads Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-19, Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C38, and Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team R.S.19
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Leclerc: I'm to blame for Verstappen crash
Next article FIA: F1 needs tolerance approach to start system
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Kevin Magnussen
Title battles and bittersweet farewells headline packed 54-car Petit Le Mans grid
IMSA
IMSA
Petit Le Mans
Title battles and bittersweet farewells headline packed 54-car Petit Le Mans grid
Kevin Magnussen vs. Noah Gragson NASCAR feud: A lap-by-lap breakdown
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
San Diego
Kevin Magnussen vs. Noah Gragson NASCAR feud: A lap-by-lap breakdown
Kevin Magnussen's NASCAR debut is part of post-F1 'open mind' to global motorsports
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
San Diego
Kevin Magnussen's NASCAR debut is part of post-F1 'open mind' to global motorsports
More from
Haas F1 Team
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Latest news
NASCAR Cup Talladega starting lineup: Chase Briscoe beats Austin Hill for pole
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
56 min
NASCAR Cup Talladega starting lineup: Chase Briscoe beats Austin Hill for pole
F1 United States GP: Lewis Hamilton pips Max Verstappen in FP3
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
F1 United States GP: Lewis Hamilton pips Max Verstappen in FP3
NASCAR plans to modify Phoenix dogleg to lessen driver loads
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
NASCAR plans to modify Phoenix dogleg to lessen driver loads
Lamborghini | Barcelona selected to host the 2027 Super Trofeo World Finals
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
2 h
Lamborghini | Barcelona selected to host the 2027 Super Trofeo World Finals
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe