The MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s Kevin Magnussen was delighted to score his and the American squad’s first point of the season following a strong Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
The Danish driver started the 50-lap race from P13 and came through to finish the event in tenth place and speaking following the race Magnussen said:
A point means a lot. We didn’t start the weekend on the right foot but it seemed like we really turned things around
and found a groove for qualifying. Unfortunately, we had this issue with the gearbox that we didn’t have today, which
was really nice. We were able to have a good race, get a good start, manage the tires well – especially on the hard
compound when I was on older tires than Tsunoda and actually had less degradation. I was then able to get past him
at the end, and we managed to get a point.”
Nico Hulkenberg, who started the race from tenth, came home in 12th, and although he was disappointed, he felt that the team learned a lot throughout the Grand Prix speaking following the event, the German said:
“It was eventful. It’s always a massive challenge here on this track and it was tight. On one hand I’m disappointed I
missed out on a point, but on the other hand I’m very pleased that I completed the race and we’ve learned a lot. The
underlying positive news is that we’re competitive. It was difficult to judge in Bahrain with damage, but here today
we’re definitely competitive in the midfield and that makes me happy.”
Haas F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner feels the team can be cautiously optimistic heading into the season’s next race, Down Under, in Melbourne, Australia. Speaking following the race he said:
“First point this season. We had the speed but didn’t luck into it as some people were in a better position after the
safety car, but the drivers fought hard, and we got a point. The whole team performed flawlessly all weekend, they
kept their heads up and everyone just kept on pushing. That’s what we’re going to be doing all season long and I’m
really looking forward to going to Australia now. As I said after Bahrain, I didn’t really know where we were with the
car, but we now know where we think we are. We’re in the mix, we’re actually pretty good I think – it’s all coming
together. We didn’t panic after Bahrain – now we’re cautiously optimistic.