He does the dirty work for his teammate Hülkenberg, he stops his opponents and throws them off the track. It’s a tactic. And now he risks disqualification
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 04: Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari leads Kevin Magnussen of Denmark driving the (20) Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 04, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Clive Mason/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by CLIVE MASON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
In Formula One it’s not called a bolt. It’s called “teamwork”, at best. But no one had ever used it as an overt tactic, in virtually all races. At Haas it has become the norm: poor Kevin Magnussen sacrifices himself and his teammate Nico Hülkenberg scores points. He makes the barricades, Magnussen. He blocks his opponents, sometimes he throws them out, other times he cuts curve after curve. Bottom line: so far he has received 10 penalty points, at 12 the disqualification occurs. It works like a points-based driving licence. It’s not just a sporting “problem” for Formula One: each position in the constructors’ championship is worth around 12-15 million dollars. In short, Haas have understood how to exploit the rules to recover money in a championship dominated by the usual 3-4 top teams. The Athletic writes about it.
Magnussen has accumulated all sorts of penalties in this first part of the World Championship. In Miami for example he took a time penalty for a collision with Alex Albon, another for overtaking Yuki Tsunoda off the track. Then knowing that his race was now ruined he became aggressive in his defensive moves to help Hülkenberg, slowing down the cars he was fighting with, Magnussen created a gap that allowed Hülkenberg to be able to return to the pits without losing a position, maintaining the tenth place, scoring a precious point for Haas.”
Magnussen took a three-point penalty for the collision with Albon, while overtaking Tsunoda only resulted in a 10-second penalty. Then another two penalty points in China for the collision with Tsunoda after the safety car restart.
“But it was in the sprint race in Miami that Magnussen did the real damage to himself, once again helping Hülkenberg score some points. He went off the track on three occasions to stay ahead of Lewis Hamilton, and help Hülkenberg. Each triggered a 10-second penalty that meant Magnussen finished last, but his actions were effective in allowing Hülkenberg to escape to the front.”
Magnussen admitted it calmly on official Formula One TV: “I had to make a play to avoid being overtaken. It’s not the way I want to run. But that’s what I had to do.”
The stewards have investigated Magnussen for unsportsmanlike behavior but know that the rules evidently do not discourage team blocking enough. Magnussen also agrees that the rules could be improved: “If you are fighting and do something that is not allowed, the FIA should have the power to tell you to give back points or positions”. But since she doesn’t…
Napolista ilnapolista © all rights reserved
){kind=link}