The fireworks some predicted when Nico Hulkenberg joined Kevin Magnussen at Haas by no means materialised.
As a substitute Hulkenberg, has rebuilt his standing in F1, after being solid apart by Renault 5 years in the past, reliably bagging factors for Haas and making them real contenders for sixth within the constructors’ championship – possibly even higher. His reward was a contract provide from incoming producer group Audi, which to Haas’ disappointment, he accepted.
Magnussen deserves a few of the credit score for this. Haas have referred to as on him to play the defensive recreation for his group mate and he has obeyed, typically taking it to such an excessive the stewards received concerned, as was the case within the dash race at Miami the place he repeatedly left the observe whereas irritating Lewis Hamilton’s efforts to go. That, plus a number of too many run-ins together with his rivals, have left Magnussen with a worryingly excessive accumulation of penalty factors, although he insists that has no bearing on his strategy to the remaining races.
They could show to be his final in F1, as Haas have chosen two new drivers for subsequent 12 months, following Hulkenberg’s resolution to hitch Sauber. That must be seen as a telling verdict on Magnussen’s efforts, after the reward he received following his Eleventh-hour return in 2022.
Hulkenberg has retained the higher hand on one-lap tempo which was obvious all through final 12 months. As Haas solved the tyre degradation issues which plagued them final season, Hulkenberg has normally been best-placed to capitalise, often with Magnussen’s assist. But when something the hole between the 2 has grown this 12 months, and except Magnussen addresses that over the remaining races, it’s laborious to see him getting an opportunity to proceed in F1 some place else.
Magnussen vs Hulkenberg: Season abstract
Magnussen vs Hulkenberg: Race-by-race
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Destructive worth: Magnussen was quicker; Constructive worth: Hulkenberg was quicker
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