After a challenging season, Kevin Magnussen concluded his Formula 1 career with a mix of highs and lows in Abu Dhabi. While Haas narrowly missed out on P6 in the Constructors’ Championship, the Danish driver looks back on his ten years in the sport with pride and gratitude.
A Promising Start, A Disappointing End
Magnussen kicked off his final race at the Yas Marina Circuit with a bang. Starting from P14, he stormed to P7 in the opening lap, an impressive surge. Unfortunately, a slow pit stop in lap 12 caused him to fall back in the field. His hopes for points were definitively dashed after a collision with Valtteri Bottas, who, with a lock-up in turn 7, sent the Haas into a spin. This forced the Dane to return to the pits once again, falling out of the points.
Yet, there was still a moment of glory: Magnussen set the fastest lap in the final phase on softs, more than two seconds faster than the rest. “I think the team just wanted me to enjoy one more time,” he told F1TV afterwards. “A Formula 1 car with low fuel and new tires – that’s phenomenal. It was their way of making my farewell extra special, and I certainly appreciated it.”
A Decade of Dreams and Struggles
The race in Abu Dhabi marked the end of Kevin Magnussen‘s Formula 1 career. The 32-year-old had previously announced that he would be moving to BMW as a factory driver next year. Although he did not achieve his ultimate dream of becoming a world champion, he looks back with pride at what he has accomplished. “As a little boy, I dreamed of Formula 1, and I managed to compete in this sport for ten years. That is a privilege. Of course, I wanted to win, but I am grateful that I was able to build a career in a sport I could only dream of as a child,” said Magnussen.
Magnussen drove for McLaren, Renault, and Haas and was particularly praised for his fighting spirit and ability to get the most out of the car, even in less competitive years.
