Kevin Magnussen feels that his years in Formula 1 have taught him
how to handle pressure, even though he appreciates the differing
levels in the top echelon of motorsport. Magnussen enjoyed a
nine-year career in F1, punctuated by two enforced season-long
breaks, initially after being axed by McLaren at the end of his
debut campaign in 2014, and again after being released by Haas
after the Covid-hit 2020 season. The Danish driver made two
comebacks before being dropped for a third time overall, and a
second time with Haas at the end of last season. This year he is
part of BMW's World Endurance Championship driver line-up. He is
also competing in three endurance rounds of the IMSA Sportscar
Championship, which began at the weekend with the Daytona 24 Hours
in which he finished fourth. After 185 grands prix, predominantly
competing away from the sharp end of the grid, Magnussen has
explained the over-riding aspect of competing in F1 that will stand
him in good stead for the next phase of his career. "It's that
nothing can really faze you in terms of pressure," said Magnussen,
speaking to RacingNews365 . "I've been under the most pressure you
can be in motorsport, and over a long period of time. "Formula 1
does that to you. You become a little unfazed by any sort of
pressure situation." Magnussen recognises the pressure he
experienced, however, was in stark contrast to that of Max
Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in fighting for drivers'
championships. Magnussen made the podium only once in his F1
career, and that in his opening race with McLaren in Australia. For
the most part, it was a slog to score points. Referencing what
Verstappen and Hamilton have endured over time, especially in 2021,
Magnussen added: "That has to be a higher pressure, of course.
"Formula 1, as a category, is where you experience the most
pressure. "Of course, if you're fighting for the championship,
you're going to feel even more pressure than anything I've felt.
"I'm sure those last laps in Abu Dhabi '21 for Max, there was a lot
of pressure, and in some other situations like 2016 for Nico
Rosberg and Hamilton, that kind of pressure I've never experienced.
"But when you go into other things in life, or whatever I do,
compared to other people in my life, whatever situations they
stress about, sometimes I just kind of feel, 'It's okay. Everything
will be fine'."
how to handle pressure, even though he appreciates the differing
levels in the top echelon of motorsport. Magnussen enjoyed a
nine-year career in F1, punctuated by two enforced season-long
breaks, initially after being axed by McLaren at the end of his
debut campaign in 2014, and again after being released by Haas
after the Covid-hit 2020 season. The Danish driver made two
comebacks before being dropped for a third time overall, and a
second time with Haas at the end of last season. This year he is
part of BMW's World Endurance Championship driver line-up. He is
also competing in three endurance rounds of the IMSA Sportscar
Championship, which began at the weekend with the Daytona 24 Hours
in which he finished fourth. After 185 grands prix, predominantly
competing away from the sharp end of the grid, Magnussen has
explained the over-riding aspect of competing in F1 that will stand
him in good stead for the next phase of his career. "It's that
nothing can really faze you in terms of pressure," said Magnussen,
speaking to RacingNews365 . "I've been under the most pressure you
can be in motorsport, and over a long period of time. "Formula 1
does that to you. You become a little unfazed by any sort of
pressure situation." Magnussen recognises the pressure he
experienced, however, was in stark contrast to that of Max
Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in fighting for drivers'
championships. Magnussen made the podium only once in his F1
career, and that in his opening race with McLaren in Australia. For
the most part, it was a slog to score points. Referencing what
Verstappen and Hamilton have endured over time, especially in 2021,
Magnussen added: "That has to be a higher pressure, of course.
"Formula 1, as a category, is where you experience the most
pressure. "Of course, if you're fighting for the championship,
you're going to feel even more pressure than anything I've felt.
"I'm sure those last laps in Abu Dhabi '21 for Max, there was a lot
of pressure, and in some other situations like 2016 for Nico
Rosberg and Hamilton, that kind of pressure I've never experienced.
"But when you go into other things in life, or whatever I do,
compared to other people in my life, whatever situations they
stress about, sometimes I just kind of feel, 'It's okay. Everything
will be fine'."
