After finishing the COTA Sprint in P7, a key point scoring position for Haas, Kevin Magnussen has qualified P9 for the 2024 Formula One United States Grand Prix. Magnussen out qualified his teammate, Nico Hülkenberg only for the fourth time this season.
Despite the upturn in their form in the recent weeks, Magnussen stated that there was more lap time to be found in the end of Q3. He lamented the yellow flag, brought out as a result of George Russell crashing mere seconds before the chequered flag.
“Yeah, could’ve. There was that yellow flag at the end. My lap time from qualifying is on a used soft. I had a fantastic lap on the new but in the last sector with the yellow flag, of course, had to abort it.”
Magnussen explained that his first run in Q3 was set on used softs. However, with the second run on new softs, the Haas driver was at least three or tenths up on his previous time. Magnussen also suggested that the lap time set by the Australian McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri, could have been threatened.
“But it was at that point three or four tenths up, and it was still two corners to go, so. I mean, the 32.9s that we see from Piastri I think is not at all impossible. Annoyed with that of course, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”
The Danish driver also went on to compliment the technical upgrades brought by the American team. Magnussen stated that it is a huge positive knowing that the upgrade package is working as the team had hoped.
“It’s great to be able to bolt the upgrade on the car and have it work. I think that’s a really big positive and looking forward to race it tomorrow.”
Kevin Magnussen will start the Sunday’s United States Grand Prix in P9, while Nico Hulkenberg will start the race from the P12 grid box.
Haas overtook RB for P6 in the Constructors’ Championship thanks to the three points scored yesterday.
