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Magnussen feels 'more ready' to cope with F1 pressure now

Kevin Magnussen believes that he will be returning to Formula 1 better able to cope with the pressure of having to deliver than he did when he raced for McLaren.

Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team

Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team

XPB Images

Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team
(L to R): Carlos Ghosn, Chairman of Renault with Jolyon Palmer, Renault F1 Team; Esteban Ocon, Renault F1 Team Test Driver; and Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team
Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team
(L to R): Jolyon Palmer, Renault F1 Team with Esteban Ocon, Renault F1 Team Test Driver and Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team
(L to R): Carlos Ghosn, Chairman of Renault with Jolyon Palmer, Renault F1 Team; Esteban Ocon, Renault F1 Team Test Driver; and Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team
Carlos Ghosn, Renault President with Jerome Stoll, Renault Sport F1 president, Cyril Abiteboul,  Renault Sport F1 managing director and Frederic Vasseur, team manager Renault Sport F1 team and drivers Jolyon Palmer, Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon Renault F1 tests driver
(L to R): Carlos Ghosn, Chairman of Renault with Jolyon Palmer, Renault F1 Team; Esteban Ocon, Renault F1 Team Test Driver and Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team
(L to R): Carlos Ghosn, Chairman of Renault with Jolyon Palmer, Renault F1 Team; Esteban Ocon, Renault F1 Team Test Driver and Kevin Magnussen, Renault F1 Team

The Dane has been handed an F1 lifeline by Renault, which swooped for the youngster after its deal with Pastor Maldonado collapsed following payment problems with his long-time backers PDVSA.

Magnussen is clearly delighted with the opportunity, and thinks that having had a year out of F1, he will come back a better driver and better prepared for what he needs to do than he did in 2014 with McLaren.

"I feel much more relaxed this time," said Magnussen at the Renault team launch in Paris, where he made his first public appearance since signing the deal.

"I felt a lot of pressure first time around with McLaren and I feel pressure now, but in a much more positive way.

"And I actually feel more ready, which is kind of obvious when I've had a year away."

Second chance

Magnussen is well aware of how he needs to seize the opportunity handed to him, because not many drivers in F1 get a chance to rebuild their careers like he has.

"It's really nice to have a fresh break," he said. "I'm really happy to be with this team. It's a brilliant opportunity, and not many drivers get this opportunity.

"I've been given a second chance and... a proper chance, you know. I just can't wait to get in the car and get racing again."

Long-term plan

Magnussen is determined to be at Renault for the long haul, as it bids to plot its return to the front of the grid.

"The ambition is to be with this team when we start winning," he said. "That's my goal. It is to win the world championship in F1, that's my lifetime ambition.

"But I think it's going to be important to be realistic about where we are. It is a completely new set-up. But Renault's done this before with the exact same set-up."

Magnussen also does not think that the relative inexperience of him and rookie teammate Jolyon Palmer will be a hindrance to the team.

"Both me and Jolyon have relatively low experience in Formula 1," he said. "He's had a year of being a test and reserve driver and he's tested quite a few times in an F1 car.

"He won a GP2 championship and that's a big achievement, it shows he's a fast driver capable of winning championships.

"It's going to be, hopefully, a very good working relationship and we have to work together to drive this team forward."

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Edition

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