I am still very fast – Magnussen

McLaren-Honda’s Kevin Magnussen tells F1i he is “very confident” that he has not lost any of his speed despite watching from the sidelines this year.

Following an encouraging rookie season, the Dane had to settle for a reserve driver role in 2015 after the British team chose former team-mate Jenson Button to partner Woking returnee Fernando Alonso.

Although Magnussen received a late call-up to replace the injured Spaniard in Melbourne’s season opener, he missed out on a potential IndyCar drive as a result and has not driven competitively since March.

“You do say that tough times make you stronger and it has been a tough time and it has made me stronger,” he told F1i during an exclusive interview. “I’ve grown a lot this year personally, just growing up and toughening up a bit in many areas.

“Personally I haven’t learned much from driving cars but I’m very confident that I still will be very fast when I get back in a race car.

What’s more, Magnussen, who also reveals that other F1 teams have approached him for 2016, thinks he is making the most of his reserve role in picking up valuable lessons off track to improve his race craft.

“I’ve been very involved in the technical side this year, as I haven’t been driving I’ve tried to involve myself much more in the engineering side.

“That’s been helpful, I guess, for when I get back out. I wouldn’t have been so involved if I had been racing. Nothing is ever negative without being positive for something else and hopefully that’s just the case here as well.”

Kevin Magnussen exclusive interview: New doors opening in F1

Click here for a lighter look at the Belgian Grand Prix, courtesy of F1i special contributor Eric Silbermann.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter