Magnussen: Maybe it’s easier to overtake in Barcelona

Kevin Magnussen prepares for the Spanish Grand Prix with the Haas F1 team and is interested in trying out the circuit in Barcelona in its original configuration, with no chicane at the end of the lap.

Q: Your best track result in Barcelona is 6th place in the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix. What can you say about the Catalan ring?

Kevin Magnussen: It’s one of those circuits in the world where I’ve done the most laps. But this can be said by many Formula 1 drivers, because winter testing is traditionally held in Barcelona and when I raced in the youth series, testing took place there quite often as well. We generally know this circuit well, as it appears on the calendars of almost all race series.

Question There were changes on the track for this season: the chicane, which was added in 2007 in turns 14-15, has now been removed. The relegation zone in turn 1 has also been enlarged and the official lap length has been reduced by 18 metres. You’re one of those riders who isn’t in the habit of trail walking—how are you going to learn these little changes? Or is one workout enough to feel comfortable behind the wheel?

Kevin Magnussen: I think it will be very interesting to try the original ring configuration without this chicane. Although I always liked these last two corners of the track, and the speeds there were very high. Let’s see how all this affects overtaking, but I feel like it makes it a little bit easier to overtake. But time will tell.

Q: Racers know the circuit in Barcelona like the back of their hand, but this year no testing was done there. Will it be more difficult to find the optimal settings for the VF-23?

Kevin Magnussen: I suppose since we know this number so well there shouldn’t be much of a difference. We know how the VF-23 differs from last year’s car, and I don’t think much has changed in terms of handling. I am about to go to Barcelona where we will try out the new track configuration and hopefully we can fight for a good result.