Haas record-breaker Magnussen targets Miami magic

Kevin Magnussen is hoping to provide a magic performance in the Miami Grand Prix after a record qualifying session for Haas.

The Danish driver secured the American team’s best Grand Prix start position in its F1 history by securing the fourth-fastest time on Saturday in a session cut short by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashing out at the Turn 5, 6, 7 complex of corners.

Whilst Magnussen finished fastest in Friday’s qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last year, he fell down the order in the subsequent Sprint event, meaning this is Haas’ best qualifying result.

There was a nervous wait over a potential penalty for impeding Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in a bizarre incident earlier in the session, but the FIA race stewards decided no further action was necessary.

“I am well chuffed with that,” said Magnussen.

“In the US, Miami Grand Prix, in front of the home crowd, title sponsors – it is great to be able to put on a result like that.

“Of course, there are no points for qualifying but we know how good it feels to have a good qualifying.

“That was a lot of fun and hopefully that gets everyone a bit pumped [for the race].”

Really pumped

Magnussen has secured only one point so far this season with F1’s midfield pecking order fluctuating from race to race in the early stages.

But riding the wave of his qualifying result and asked if he could deliver a magic result in the race, Magnussen explained: “I am hopeful [for something special].

“We had a good long run [pace in practice]. The car felt very good on high fuel – glad to be starting P4, really pumped.”