Is Kevin Magnussen expected to still be racing in 2025?
Kevin Magnussen may be a “great” guy off the track, but Ralf Schumacher says when the visor comes down all of that is “gone” and it will earn him a race ban before F1 2024 is over.
Haas driver Magnussen has made headlines for all the wrong reasons this season, so much so his antics have Formula 1 stewards urging the FIA to tighten the regulations.
‘Kevin Magnussen wants to run headfirst into the wall’
Twice now, Magnussen has taken up the role of defender to support his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in earning points, but has exceeded the boundaries in the process.
Magnussen’s actions in Jeddah, where he deviated from the track to maintain his position against Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon, were disapproved of. As a result, he received a time penalty from the stewards. However, in Miami, the stewards were even stricter in their judgment due to Magnussen’s repeated rule violations.
During his defense against Lewis Hamilton, Magnussen faced multiple time penalties for going beyond track limits on that Saturday. On the third occasion, he received a black and white flag.
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At the conclusion of the mini race, he received penalty points, increasing his total to eight. Additionally, during the grand prix, he collided with Logan Sargeant, resulting in two more penalty points and bringing his total up to 10.
That puts you just two steps away from being automatically banned from racing.
“He will manage it this year too if he keeps going like this,” Schumacher told the Formula1.de YouTube channel.
Until 9 March next season, Magnussen will maintain a flawless record, not conceding any points. This will place the Dane dangerously close to a ban, as he enters the final two-thirds of the F1 2024 season with just a two-point buffer.
According to pundits, he was considered lucky to have avoided being penalized for the incident with Sergio Perez during the first lap in Monaco.
Nico Hulkenberg became an unfortunate victim when he made the ill-advised decision to stick his nose up the inside of the Red Bull, resulting in a collision that took both drivers out of the race.
The stewards deemed no further action necessary, yet Schumacher holds the belief that Magnussen was at fault.
He questioned, “Where could Magnussen have possibly headed? It seemed like he would have been positioned on the outer side of the upcoming turn, so I couldn’t comprehend the purpose behind his actions.”
Magnussen embodies a daring spirit, often described as someone who fearlessly charges towards challenges. While maintaining a pleasant demeanor outside the racing arena, he undergoes a noticeable transformation when his visor is lowered. It seems like certain aspects of his personality fade away, leaving behind a focused and intense competitor. Additionally, Magnussen is highly regarded as a dedicated family man.
“Now, one might argue that Perez could have… but what’s the reason behind Magnussen being there with the front wheel? It seems out of place for him.”
Rumors about Magnussen’s anticipated suspension have sparked further speculation regarding his future. Haas is reportedly interested in securing Oliver Bearman as one of their two Formula 1 drivers for the 2025 season.
Initially, there was speculation that Magnussen may remain at Haas to mentor the rookie driver, Nico Hulkenberg, who was set to join Audi. However, recent reports suggest that Haas is now interested in signing either Esteban Ocon or Zhou Guanyu.
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