F1 News, Reports and Race Results

'I didn't apologise to Ericsson,' says Magnussen

Kevin Magnussen denies he ever apologised to Marcus Ericsson for the pair's 'nordic' run-in on the first lap of the Australian GP a fortnight ago.

The Haas driver collided with his Sauber counterpart on the first lap in Melbourne, putting both himself and his opponent out of contention in the season opener.

Ericsson later tweeted that all was cool between the two drivers as Magnussen had subsequently apologized for the mishap, but the Dane denies acknowledging any responsibility.

"I saw the tweet. We met in the plane and talked about it, but I didn’t apologise," the Haas driver told the media in Shanghai.

"It’s not his fault – it’s a racing incident. He was on the outside, I understeered into him.

"It was actually an oversteer that turned into an understeer – if I was him, I would have left more room just to be sure.

"There was no way I could have done anything [different] anyway, but it’s a racing incident."

In Shangahi today, Sauber's Marcus Ericsson confirmed once again the Dane's mea culpa.

"We were on the same flight on Sunday night [after the Australian GP], so we had a chat on the plane, and Kevin put his hands up and said he was sorry," said Ericsson.

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

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

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Sad Colapinto laments two crashes in one day in Sao Paulo

Williams suffered a bruising time on Sunday in Sao Paulo, with Alex Albon unable to…

40 mins ago

McLaren: No regrets over timing of Norris pit stop in Sao Paulo GP

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted that the squad has no regrets about their…

2 hours ago

Williams' Boutsen hoists the mainsail in Adelaide

On this day in 1989, Williams' Thierry Boutsen secured his second F1 win when he…

3 hours ago

Horner: Max 'answered critics' with epic Sao Paulo GP drive

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s sensational Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory…

4 hours ago

Sainz left puzzled by double crash drama in rainy São Paulo

Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…

5 hours ago

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

7 hours ago