Abu Dhabi was the final race of the 2024 season and the last one for Kevin Magnussen in F1. The Danish driver is set to drive for BMW M Motorsport next year. He will be competing in the M Hybrid V8 and is confirmed to be racing in the Daytona Rolex 24 in January.
Magnussen ran his last Grand Prix for Haas in Abu Dhabi. He had qualified P15 in qualifying but started P14 due to Leclerc’s 10-place grid penalty, finishing 0.8s off teammate Nico Hülkenberg in Q2.
He started off the race in the best possible way, jumping up a total of 7 positions on the opening lap. However, a slow pit stop on lap 12 resulted in the driver falling back to P12.
He had stayed at that position until his next pit stop on lap 30 where he emerged with hard tyres. The 32-year old was still in contention for points when he exited the pits. That was until his collision with Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas at turn 7, which resulted in another trip to the pits.
The Danish driver had pitted for softs. This gave him the necessary grip to set the fastest lap of the race as he logged a lap time of a 1:25.637. His race lap record is now officially the fastest lap record of the Yas Marina Circuit.
Magnussen ultimately crossed the line in P16.
Kevin Magnussen sums up his final F1 race
“It’s easy when you’re the only one on the new tyres, low fuel [on setting the lap record].
“I think the enjoyable part was lap 1, I knew I wanted to try something special and just go balls to the wall and try to make up for the qualifying. And I did, I came around P7 from P14.
“So, just unfortunate with the slow pit stop which kind of ruined the race and then afterwards of course the contact with Bottas.
“But yeah, gave it a go, tried our best, nothing to show for it but it’s still been a privilege to come back to Formula 1.
“These last three years have been a real challenge but a real privilege as well.
“Very thankful, very excited for the future and I wish the team all the best.”
There is also no bad blood between himself and Bottas following their contact: “It was a mistake from him but these things happen.”
Thankful for a second opportunity in F1, says Kevin Magnussen
When asked about how emotional the weekend has been for him, Magnussen simply replied that he was thankful for the opportunity.
The 32-year-old from Denmark returned in 2022 following the dismissal of Nikita Mazepin from the team. His stand out moment came that year in São Paulo as he qualified on pole.
“You know, I think, I’ve been in this situation before so it’s kind of getting old I think.
“Somehow the emotions, I’ve been through it before in a way so, I don’t know, it doesn’t really feel like the last time somehow.
“But yeah, I think, as I said, I’m very thankful and I just feel good.”
Special moments with his wife and kids
The Magnussen family definitely played a big role in making Kevin’s final race in F1 extra special.
“Congratulations honey on your last race. I love you. Welcome home to me and the girls”, is the message Magnussen’s wife Louise delivered as he headed back to the pits.
The Haas driver talked about their paddock presence and how much having them around meant.
“Yeah, for sure. It was very enjoyable to share this moment with my daughter and my wife on the grid.
“We sat there just looking and my daughter won’t remember when she grows old, but I’ll certainly remember for the rest of my life.
“Just to sit there and she was excited and proud to be there on the grid.
“She loves being around here, she loves supporting her dad and that means a lot.”
How Magnussen’s relationship with Hülkenberg evolved
He also briefly touched upon his relationship with his Haas teammate, Nico Hülkenberg.
The two have worked well together over the last couple of seasons, a stark contrast to the days when they had a heated argument following the 2017 Hungarian GP.
Magnussen explained that their daughters get on really well, as he admitted it surprised him how much his relationship with Hülkenberg has changed.
“They’re really good friends.
“It’s unimaginable how Nico’s and my relationship evolved over the years.
“It’s been fantastic to have both our families there. There’s been a real connection there between our families, and it’s just been really enjoyable.”
It’s been a wild ride in Formula One for the Danish driver. He debuted with McLaren at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, where he finished P2, making him the first Dane to secure a top 3 in a F1 race.
Since then he has clocked up 202 career points, 3 fastest laps, and a total of 185 career races.
Magnussen’s best result on this return was P5 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022, the first race in his comeback.
