In 2014, in his debut Formula 1 race in Melbourne, Kevin Magnussen won the only podium at this point in his career. The Haas driver has fond memories of that result, but he does not expect to finish in the top three again next weekend.
Q: Everyone in the Formula 1 paddock is happy to go back to Melbourne. What’s so special about it?
Kevin Magnussen: There is a special atmosphere in Melbourne, as this race opened the season for many years. The first race is always exciting because everyone gets to know the new cars. In addition, Australia itself is cool, and most of the time the trip turns out to be interesting.
Q: In 2014 you held your debut race in Melbourne and got a podium. How have you changed in the past ten years?
Kevin Magnussen: I have changed a lot. Now I feel like I was just a kid back then. Since then, a third of my life has passed, and many events have passed. The first weekend in Formula 1 is very intense, but at the same time a great experience. The stage made it special so I will remember that weekend for the rest of my life.
That podium means more to me now than it did back then. I had a different view then. I just switched to Formula 1 from the junior racing class, where podiums, wins and titles were a regular occurrence. It was great to be on the podium in Formula 1, but I expected and looked forward to such results, when the reality showed that it would not be the norm.
Now the podium means so much more to me, because I don’t take such a result for granted – I dream, hope and work towards this goal. The podium is not the result we expect, so if it is achieved it will be a million times more important.
Q: In Melbourne, as in Jeddah, the track is surrounded by walls. Do you prefer these kind of circuits or do you prefer “old school” circuits where you can experiment with racing lines?
Kevin Magnussen: I think the promoters did a great job with the new configuration, but I don’t know if it’s better yet – I still like the old Albert Park configuration. She had her own character, while the new one is more like other songs. However, it has become faster and smoother, so driving in Formula 1 should be fun. But still I like the old configuration a little more.
Q: After the Melbourne stage in Formula 1 there will be a break of almost a month due to the cancellation of the race in Shanghai. How important is this break mentally and physically for the riders?
Kevin Magnussen: The coolest thing about this break is that you can get into a workout routine for three and a half weeks – we don’t have daily flights and time zone changes, so you can spend whole days in the gym. Moreover, it is wonderful to spend time with your family. We dads in the paddock enjoy this break just a little bit more than the rest.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
