F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Magnussen: 'Embarrassing' crash set up poor race result

Kevin Magnussen said his dismal result in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix was set up by his "quite embarrassing" crash in qualifying earlier in the day.

Magnussen spun into the wall at Suzuka's on the exit of the final chicane in Q1, caught out by a gust of wind, a phenomenon that challenged drivers during the delayed session and also led to the early demise of Williams' Robert Kubica.

"I went on the power, I had full throttle, and then suddenly I got wheelspin, and spun around, which was unfortunate and quite embarrassing really, but shit happens," Magnussen said.

"I just didn’t expect to get such a big gust of wind there right in the tail. I showed everyone what not to do."

Haas succeeded in repairing the Dane's car in time for the race, but the mishap meant a lowly P19 launch off the grid, and a slightly better 17th-place finish at the end of the day, although Magnussen ran as high as 11th at one point.

"It just didn’t work out with pitstops and strategy," he explained.

"It wasn’t terrible in terms of tyres and pace, not like previous races where we’ve been hopeless because of whatever…

“If we hooked everything up, and I started where I should have and got as good a start as I did, then I would have been in a much better position.

"And probably with a better pitstop and strategy we could have scored points. So, it’s frustrating."

Like a few of his colleagues, Magnussen believed the weekend's altered schedule in Suzuka - with Saturday's running scrapped altogether because of Typhoon Hagibis - had perhaps provided F1 with some food for thought.

"It’s been a really fun day, very interesting and very intense," he said. "I’d love to see this be the way forward in the future."

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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.

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