In Monaco, Sergio Perez from Red Bull experiences a crash.
Kevin Magnussen is standing his ground over his Monaco crash with Sergio Perez, saying the Red Bull driver saw him and tried to “intimidate” him into backing down.
However, this does not imply that he views the Mexican racer as a “dirty driver or anything”.
Kevin Magnussen ‘trusted’ Sergio Perez to leave him room
Kevin Magnussen and Perez brought out the red flag at the Monaco Grand Prix when they crashed heavily on the opening lap as Magnussen tried to overtake Perez on the run up the hill after Ste. Devote.
As the track curved to the left, Magnussen attempted to overtake the Red Bull driver by going around the outside. However, he miscalculated and ended up running out of space, resulting in a slight contact between the two cars.
The Haas driver was largely blamed for the crash, which also caught out his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg and is said to have cost Red Bull two to three million dollars such was the damage to Perez’s RB20.
The stewards deemed it a racing incident, with pundits stating that Magnussen was lucky to avoid any consequences, considering he already has 10 points on his Super Licence. He is only two points shy of facing a race ban.
Despite protesting his innocence at the time, he continues to maintain that Perez was responsible for causing their collision.
Magnussen, speaking to the media in Montreal, expressed that he doesn’t perceive Checo as a reckless driver in any way. However, he was taken aback by the fact that Checo didn’t give him enough space.
It is evident that he was intentionally cornering me to intimidate and make me withdraw. However, I firmly believe that this is not the appropriate manner in which we should engage in a race.
There is no way he can argue that he didn’t see me, as he did in fact see me.
“That’s why I kept it flat, you know? I had faith that he would give me enough room after seeing me.”
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The Dane maintains his opinion, even after reflecting on the crash and reviewing multiple replays.
He stated, “I have examined it numerous times. Usually, your perspective on what occurs alters when observed from an external standpoint, but in this instance, it remained relatively consistent.”
“He had spotted me, and I was well aware of it. The level of risk feels greater when there’s uncertainty about being noticed.”
If I had any doubts about him noticing me, I would have likely retreated. However, it was evident to me that he had indeed seen me. Therefore, I assumed he would leave enough space for a car. Regrettably, I shouldn’t have placed my trust in him.
“Nevertheless, it remains true that he failed to leave a car width. Perhaps, based on my experience, I should have been aware that certain drivers do not always adhere to this practice. There is always a potential risk that they will not.”
However, with both pundits and fans strongly criticizing Magnussen for the crash, it raises the question of what lies ahead for the Haas driver.
There have been suggestions that his days in F1 are limited as he is out of contract with the team at the end of this season. Oliver Bearman is expected to be one of Haas’ drivers in 2025, potentially leaving him out of the equation. Esteban Ocon or Pierre Gasly have been mentioned as potential candidates for the second seat.
Magnussen stated that there is a possibility of being excluded, mentioning that the team is familiar with his abilities and he believes there is no need for him to demonstrate anything.
“The current driving market is highly competitive and unpredictable. Let’s wait and see how it unfolds.”
“I have expressed my strong desire to continue being a part of this team. The team is currently in a favorable position with promising prospects for the future. Therefore, I would be thrilled to continue being involved.”
“I am uncertain about the duration it will take for us to determine the outcome. However, in the meantime, let’s continue driving.”
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