Like many of his fellow drivers, Kevin Magnussen sports a tattoo, in this case a lavish work of art spread over his right arm.

Drivers choose from a vast array of symbols and stigmas to reflect whatever notions or beliefs they value.

Stars, playing cards, dice, a stopwatch, roses and the inscription 'Viva la Vida' form the creative fresco inked on his skin.

We could probably come up with a few references, but it's better left to the Haas driver to explain himself what it all means.

"Everything together has a meaning: hope, belief and love," he told the official F1 website.

"For us Danish, it is a way to live, probably like sisu for the Finnish. I changed that a bit to my situation: The dice are hope, the stopwatch, of course, is time, or belief that I will make it, and the roses symbolize love."

Haas F1 Team boss Guenther Steiner chose to focus on the writing however when asked about his driver's tattoo.

"Viva la vida," Steiner said. "He’s from Denmark, the happiest country in the world, so you know, that is viva la vida! That is the answer. "

Guenther, have you ever heard of Coldplay?

 

 

 

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

Perez admits he ‘had doubts’ about returning to F1 with Cadillac

For much of 2025, the paddock conversation around Sergio Perez was surprisingly straightforward: a driver…

11 hours ago

Briatore questions Alpine’s results: ‘Why are we not winning?’

Flavio Briatore is not a man accustomed to standing on the sidelines of victory, nor…

13 hours ago

Richie Ginther: A man on the brink of F1 greatness

Richie Ginther was born on this day in 1930. A glance at the American F1…

15 hours ago

The Max effect: Verstappen Racing scores first Pro-Class GT win

  Victory at last! After enduring a frustrating season plagued by mechanical failures and unavoidable…

15 hours ago

Hakkinen warns McLaren on Verstappen move: ‘Why rock the boat?’

Mika Hakkinen has urged McLaren to resist the temptation of making a blockbuster move for…

16 hours ago

Veteran Aston Martin engineer Tim McCullough to exit team after 2026

Long-serving Aston Martin engineer Tim McCullough is reportedly set to leave the team at the…

17 hours ago