K-Mag lauds Haas structure after Renault, McLaren stints

New Haas F1 Team driver Kevin Magnussen believes the US outfit is a “better fit” for him after experiencing a pair of somewhat disappointing stints at McLaren and Renault.

Ron Dennis’ recent ousting as CEO and chairman underlined the power struggle that took place behind the scenes at Woking, while Renault’s multi-headed management platform has come under criticism after the manufacturer endured a challenging return as a fully-fledged works team.

Magnussen, who made his debut with McLaren in 2014 and drove for the French manufacturer last year, says he feels more at ease in his new surroundings.

“Haas is a completely different team than both McLaren and Renault,” he told Danish publication BT. “And it suits me much better”.

“I feel like I've been unlucky in F1 so far to be with two teams where the leadership was unclear. But Haas has a much straightforward management structure.

“Guenther Steiner runs the team and Gene Haas is the owner: they're both real racers who are in Formula One because they love the sport, not because they want to raise their profile or make a lot of money.

“That fits me really well, because I'm exactly the same.”

Magnussen is also pleased to reduce the scope of his media and PR commitments, especially in a year where radical aero changes require top-notch preparation.

“Haas relies less on sponsors compared to Renault, and I'm quite happy with that,” he added.

“Promotional work can take your focus away from racing, and it also takes time that could be spent on training instead.

“Unfortunately, motor racing has become a sport where the driver’s fitness and wellbeing are not considered particularly highly. It is just assumed that we are in top form, but how can we stay in shape if we don’t have enough time to train?”

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