Kevin Magnussen admitted he had another poor day after collecting his latest penalty for colliding with Logan Sargeant.
The pair tangled at turn three as Magnussen tried to pass the Williams driver on the inside. The contact sent Sargeant into the barrier and ended his race.Magnussen was blamed for the collision and given a 10-second time penalty. He was also given two penalty points on his licence, which leaves him two away from an automatic race ban.
“Not a good day again,” Magnussen admitted. “Hopefully I can get some clarity on things going forward.
“What happened today, of course it’s not good. Nonetheless, we move on and try to have a better weekend next weekend.”
The stewards ruled Magnussen was wholly to blame for the collision with Sargeant. Nonetheless his two-point penalty was less than the three points Fernando Alonso received for colliding with Carlos Sainz Jnr in the sprint race at Shanghai two weeks ago.
The stewards noted Magnussen “was attempting to pass car two [Sargeant] at turn one and then again on the outside at turn two and finally collided with car two at turn three.”
“Per the Driving Standards Guidelines, in order for car 20 [Magnussen] to be given room for an overtaking attempt on the outside, car 20 needed to have the front axle at least alongside the front axle of the other car at the apex of turn two. It was clear that Car 20 did not have its front axle in that position such that it was entitled to room in that corner.
“Further, if this is looked at purely as an overtaking on the inside of turn three, car 20 would also not have had the right to the corner, by the standards for an inside overtake.
“Even if this was viewed as a sequence of corners or a chicane, the decision remains the same. Per the guidelines, priority will be given to the first corner and if you do not have the right to be given room, then you do not get the benefit for the next corner. Car 20 was therefore wholly to blame for the collision that occurred.”
Magnussen received a further penalty for entering the pits during a Safety Car period without changing tyres. Haas admitted this was an error on their part, and Magnussen was given a post-race drive-through penalty, which added 20 seconds to his race time.
He remains under investigation for failing to serve his 10-second time penalty during the race. Magnussen also received four penalties during the sprint race yesterday.
Sargeant, who was ahead of Magnussen when the pair made contact, did not immediately blame his rival for the contact. “I haven’t seen it back so I don’t have a lot to say other than that it’s a very disappointing way to end up at my home race weekend,” he said.
“But nonetheless, it’s been a positive weekend and I have to take those positives. I feel like generally I’ve been able to to get almost everything out of it this weekend. Little bits to find but I just have to take those, draw a line under it and move on.
The collision proved a pivotal moment in the race as it triggered a Safety Car period which allowed eventual race winner Lando Norris to make his pit stop and rejoin the track in the lead.
This article will be updated
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Applebook
6th May 2024, 1:40
He should have been banned from F1 a long time ago.
dot_com (@dot_com)
6th May 2024, 13:38
I agree. His driving has always been on the brink of unsafe, but this year he’s just driving like a desperately frustrated man with no regard for others. Hoping he picks up another couple of points asap so we can see the back of him for good.
Mr A
6th May 2024, 20:55
I don’t think he’s ever been unsafe. He’s a “hard racer” which is what what we used to call people like Senna, Villeneuve (senior), Alesi and Piquet. It seems that style of racing is just simply not acceptable in today’s F1. I still think there’s someone else who forces rivals wide at the apex to defend a position he knows he’s losing, and that man is Max Verstappen. Funny how he never seems to be penalised for it, although to be fair we haven’t seen much of it since they got really draconian with the rules as nobody has been close enough.
Scotty (@rockonscotty)
6th May 2024, 2:43
Is the the record for penalty points in a single weekend?
Pedro Henrique Fernandes Carneiro
6th May 2024, 3:37
Maybe, I think Maldonado has the current record, with 10
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
6th May 2024, 6:41
That’s what happens when they get close to the ban… They start giving less and less points as they don’t want to be the ones that impose a ban. Now Kev can do whatever and he won’t get the same amount of points he would’ve been given if he had a clean license.
BasCB (@bascb)
6th May 2024, 6:46
Yeah, which especially after this weekend shows the flaw in the system again (as it did with the farce of Gasly suddenly NOT getting points on his licence for quite a few incidents where others did get them for rather similar infractions).
To me this weekend is the excellent example of where it would make sense to bench a driver for a race after he clearly was all over the track with undue defensive and agressive attacking moves and ignoring warnings, “forgetting” procedures etc. Let him (and the team) reflect on their conduct for a race and come back stronger.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
6th May 2024, 11:25
@bascb I think that if this had been American sportscars, Magnussen would have been parked for a race. Drivers drive according to the regulations-by-experience they are given, or at least try to do so. Not the regulations as written.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
6th May 2024, 7:09
Not sure what others think, but I thought this was clearly more sargeant to blame for this.
David (@nvherman)
6th May 2024, 7:45
@thegianthogweed you’re going to have to explain you’re thinking, because when I was watching it at the time, I thought it was all Magnussen, same as the stewards did
Jere (@jerejj)
6th May 2024, 7:48
@nvherman I agree, although I initially thought about the collision as 50-50, but ultimately, I resorted to the stewards’ verdict that Magnussen should’ve backed off.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
6th May 2024, 7:47
I’m definitely not sargeant’s fan, but magnussen sticked his nose in and took him out, there’s plenty of examples similar to this in the history of f1 and drivers in magnussen’s place were always found guilty.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
6th May 2024, 11:36
@thegianthogweed I thought the same when watching it, but reading the stewards’ verdict and reference to the rules, it does seem like Magnussen’s fault as he was not entitled to the space.
I’m not sure I agree with the rule though. I think if there is an overlap between the cars and sufficient space on the track, the attacking driver should be entitled to space to allow them to attempt the overtake. The driver who is ahead should be aware of their presence, and it would not be dangerous to run side by side in such a sequence of corners. However, rules are rules, and as written, Magunussen is at fault.
dot_com (@dot_com)
6th May 2024, 13:41
It was absolutely Kmag at fault here. He should not have stuck his nose inside sargeant at that point, he was nowhere near alongside him. It was always going to result in a crash, but Kmag doesn’t even seem to care at the moment.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
6th May 2024, 7:13
The stewards ruled Magnussen was wholly to blame for the collision with Albon</em.
I think this shouldn't be referring to albon
MichaelN
6th May 2024, 7:52
It’s about time Magnussen was given the opportunity to reflect on his increasingly obnoxious driving.
This weekend was a real low point in his career.
sam
6th May 2024, 17:31
Good point. New low for a Formula 1 team as well.
Christopher Rehn (@chrischrill)
6th May 2024, 9:38
At least this should hopefully keep him from the unsportsmanlike conduct he has displayed at least twice this year. Or else we’ll see Bearman driving the Haas in a few races, with Magnussen sitting tight with a race ban.
lynn-m
6th May 2024, 15:31
These anti-racing rules leading to a barrage of silly investigations and penalties need to be looked at.
Back when F1 was a sport and drivers were allowed to race it was just an accepted thing that sometimes in close, hard racing situations cars were going to make a bit of contact and that at times said contact would result in accidents.
Now every bit of contact has to be investigated & what used to be deemed racing incidents penalised and it’s making the show that used to be a sport look like a joke with all the past greats rolling in their graves at how pathetic nanny state it’s become.
They need to go back 20-30 years and just leave the drivers to race. If somebody does something outrageous, intentional etc.. then of course look at it and penalise the driver at fault but simple racing incidents should just be left upto the drivers to discuss amongst themselves post race and in following drivers briefings.
If we had these anti-racing rules in decades past half the grid would be handed multiple race bans as this anti-racing over-regulated rulebook is just attempting to dictate every aspect of how drivers drive the cars and its pathetic for the so called former pinnacle of the sport.
but then we all know that it’s no longer been regulated as a sport and clearly modern netflix show over sport fans want every minor incident to be looked at and probably relish drivers been banned because it spices up the show.
How far the nightly has fallen over the past decade!
grapmg
6th May 2024, 17:15
I agree on this ” let them race”. Although we have far more tools to investigate incidents and track limits than 20-30 years ago somehow its still impossible to apply the rules consistent. If there is no consistency its better to not apply time penalty’s at all.