Kevin Magnussen says Haas offers a more healthy working environment than rival Formula 1 teams he has driven for in the past.
The 25-year-old is in his fourth full season of F1 and his second with Haas, having previously driven for McLaren and Renault. Although Haas is smaller than previous teams he as driven for, Magnussen said it is “much more stable” because there is less staff turnover.
“Not only more simple but also very stable. You don’t get people on the way out or on the way in.“In the other teams I saw a lot of people insecure about their positions in the team, worrying about their position. That creates a bad atmosphere and culture in the team. Whereas here there’s a lot of stability. The people, the management and most of the people here feel good and secure.
“Obviously we are under pressure, it’s no secret. But it’s kind of a much more healthy kind of pressure.”
Magnussen is eighth in the championship at the summer break, higher than he has ever finished a season of F1. He says he has matured after a few “tough years” earlier in his career.
“I feel like it’s been good, I’ve had a good time, I’m showing the progress that I’ve made over the last years. I feel more mature as a driver.
“You continue to learn and you continue to improve. I feel like I’ve made some good steps after some tough years. So I feel really good.”
He described his first few years in F1 as “tumultuous.”
“They were really messy, changing teams and having a year off and coming back in, struggling again within a team.
“Now I’ve found some consistency, a more consistent place to kind of get into the whole thing again and building up. I feel like I’m back at a good level.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2018 F1 season
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
- “Drive to Survive Episode 1: All to Play For” reviewed
Bridge Wilson (@gwbridge)
14th August 2018, 10:53
This seems to be a common theme among HaasF1 employees since the team got its start. You have to wonder what all the drama and intrigue at other teams costs them in terms of points and stress. I’m not at all convinced that creating a “pressure cooker” environment drives performance.
petebaldwin (@)
14th August 2018, 12:17
You need a mix – there has to be pressure but most people’s performance drops when they are worried they’ll lose their job. It creates unhealthy stress that spreads to other employees and you quickly end up in a management vs staff situation where neither group trusts the other.
socksolid (@socksolid)
14th August 2018, 17:17
There needs to be pressure to perform but you also need an environment where people can try new things and fail safely. If all failures are met with harsh penalties you just give the signal that nobody should try to think or come up with any new ideas. And if finding guilty people is more important than fixing problems then you have just created atmosphere where nobody takes any responsibility and nobody says anything if they find a problem because they only get into trouble for doing so.
Sush meerkat
14th August 2018, 11:22
They also build faster cars, Haas, Sauber and Force Canada are schooling the rest of the much more experienced more well funded teams out in the pitlane in how to go racing.
Racefan (@racefan)
14th August 2018, 12:18
Ferrari 2019 or 2020?
Or will Redbull give him an offer he can’t refuse now they have the perfect opportunity and timing. The little annoying Gasly dosen’t fit the image of Redbull and he is still a rookie.
vjanik (@vjanik)
14th August 2018, 12:40
no chance
Racefan (@racefan)
14th August 2018, 13:17
About Gastly or Magnussen?
anon
14th August 2018, 19:00
@racefan, I would presume Magnussen, since there seems to be little incentive for either of those teams to take him.
For example, Ferrari have put quite a bit of effort into developing Leclerc, whom the team seemed keen to put into Kimi’s position before Marchionne’s death, whilst they also have a second fairly well regarded driver in the shape of Giovinazzi.
Magnussen doesn’t fit in with what seems to be Ferrari’s long term strategic vision for the team, which seems to be to move Leclerc into Kimi’s seat and then move Giovinazzi into Leclerc’s seat at Sauber (and, to be honest, Leclerc does seem to be regarded by quite a few figures in the paddock as a better long term prospect).
Racefan (@racefan)
14th August 2018, 22:27
Leclerc has only done 12 races. 4 good, 4 average and 4 bad ones. It’s a big risk to let him race in the Ferrari next year. For the team, but Also for Leclerc himself. I’m sure Ferrari knows this.
At the same time Kimi is driving good this season, but he dosen’t deliver anything spectacular at all. I think Ferrari already know that some new drivers, has a better skills to deliver poles and win GPs. Among them Magnussen and Leclerc.
Giovinazzi is at least 3 years away from a Ferrari seat. Let him show something before we discuss him.
Racefan (@racefan)
14th August 2018, 22:34
Regarding Redbull the incentive is Magnussens image, skills, results, timing and experience. Perfect match made in heaven.
Can’t say the same about Gastly and Saintz.
x303 (@x303)
14th August 2018, 13:39
That’s a strange description of Gasly.
socksolid (@socksolid)
14th August 2018, 17:18
He has a kind of punchable face though :D
Jere (@jerejj)
14th August 2018, 15:40
Good points.