Proud Magnussen hails 'unbelievable result' in Imola Q3

Kevin Magnussen qualified a sensational P4 for Saturday's Sprint event at Imola, the Dane hailing the "unbelievable result", the best ever for Haas in a F1 qualifying session.

Magnussen successfully navigated his way to Q3 in a session disrupted by a collection of red flags, including one triggered early on in the segment by the Haas charger himself after a spin at Acque Minerale.

Magnussen's car was spared any damage and the Dane managed to reverse himself out of the gravel trap and make his way back to the pits.

After a short clean-up by his crew, he rejoined the session and set the fourth fastest time, a position safeguarded by a late spin and another red flag caused by McLaren's Lando Norris.

"I was super pleased, it's another unbelievable result for us," Magnussen said after the chaotic qualifying session.

"The car was just great, so fast and a joy to drive. [I’m] so proud of the team."

Magnussen joked that his spin early in Q3 at Acque Minerali had been the result of him "running out of talent".

"I touched the white line and then it was gone, and I thought I was going to hit the wall," he said.

"I then went into gravel and slowed down quite a lot so I realised, I saw the anti-stall, pulled the clutch while I was still backwards, and then went onto the throttle just enough to get out into that escape road.

"Yeah, lucky."

2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Qualifying results

Starting Saturday's Sprint ace from the outside of the second row, Magnussen hopes to hold his own on the opening lap of the 21-lap dash and take it from there.

"I want to start in the good position for the Sunday," he said. "We’re P4.

"In the dry, I don't think we're fast enough to be P4, but it's tricky track to overtake, so if I can get around the first lap in P4, that’s gonna be super.

"If I lose a position or two after that, you know we're still get points and a great position for Sunday. Of course I always want to finish higher than fourth, but we also got to be realistic and clever."

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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.