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Post by Hammer on Feb 5, 2016 17:27:17 GMT
Magnussen was confirmed as a Renault driver on Wednesday at a launch event outside Paris and will partner British rookie Jolyon Palmer. Maldonado signed a deal to drive with the team last September, but the change in ownership and late payments from his sponsors PDVSA saw Renault replace him with Magnussen. "I have full respect for Pastor, I've been in his situation and I know it's tough, so I feel for him," Magnussen said. "But I'm sure he will have success in whatever he will do next." The Renault deal has offered Magnussen's F1 career a lifeline after he was demoted from race driver at McLaren in 2014 to reserve driver in 2015 and then left without a contract with the British team in 2016. But Magnussen insists it will not play on his mind when he goes wheel-to-wheel with McLaren this year.
"I'm not really bothered about them. I don't care. Whoever we can beat, we will beat them."
Magnussen is expecting a steep learning curve in his first year with Renault. "Let's take it day-by-day. This is the build-up phase, it's a new team so we're going to be learning a lot at the beginning and we have to be humble and realistic and work extremely hard. So let's see, I'm going to go in to the first race and really enjoy just being back in a proper race car with a proper Formula One team."
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Post by Wß on Feb 5, 2016 17:38:22 GMT
Hell hath no fury like a scorned Dane.
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Post by Hammer on Feb 26, 2016 15:50:06 GMT
Kevin Magnussen nearly signed DTM deal for 2016
Kevin Magnussen has revealed he nearly signed a contract to drive in DTM before securing a seat at Renault for this season.
Having been dropped by McLaren at the end of 2015, the Danish driver tested in both DTM and the World Endurance Championship with the remaining F1 seats unlikely without significant funding or backing. However, that situation soon changed when Pastor Maldonado's sponsorship problems freed up a seat at Renault.
Magnussen, who was only confirmed at the team last month, admits he could have made an impulsive decision to sign with a DTM team when his F1 chance for 2016 appeared to have gone.
"Of course Formula One was top of my list and of course you knock on every door," Magnussen told the official F1 website. "I always saw possibilities, but a possibility is not really what would make my day -- just being there.
"So I also risked a look at DTM - and IndyCar! In fact I was very close to DTM. As an alternative I found it pretty tempting. I always had sort of a crush on DTM. And believe me: I am just glad that none of this happened -- that I didn't panic and sign a contract that was not my absolute choice, that I had the guts to sit quiet and wait for something better. And I can say that now I am exactly where I wanted to be."
Magnussen drove at McLaren in 2014, scoring a podium on his debut, but spent much of last season on the sidelines after deputising for the injured Fernando Alonso in Melbourne. He has been paired with rookie Jolyon Palmer but does not think Renault will be hurt by its relatively inexperienced line-up.
"I don't know if he driver pairing that they've chosen is a risk. What I understood is that they will follow a long-term plan -- and their choice of drivers shows that as well. If they had chosen a world champion driver this entire plan wouldn't make sense. I think if you plan long-term you need to invest in the right places and to go with two young upcoming drivers and grow together - that sounds to me like a good plan."
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What a travesty if we had lost this guy so soon. I just wish Renault are playing their cards very close to their chest and can actually fight near the front when the European season comes by. Magnussen deserves a few podiums this year.
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Post by Frontrunner on Mar 21, 2016 11:14:28 GMT
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Post by LRW on Mar 21, 2016 19:00:55 GMT
I lost track of things with Quali this weekend. What was K-mags issue? Was it a car issue. Or just poor timing ?
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Post by Wß on Mar 22, 2016 13:52:22 GMT
A lot of teams just did a shit job of planning. You have an out lap, a hot lap, and in lap, go back to the pits, fuel, tires? an out lap, a hot lap...
If they start cutting cars out after 7 minutes, you do the math.
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Post by LRW on Mar 22, 2016 14:01:01 GMT
But at the 7min point, you'd need to have 9mins (or however long is left) worth of fuel and tyres in your car, AND be on track - because at anypoint you might fall down to the cut-off point. BUT if you go out with 9mins worth of fuel you'll be too slow and will be dropped anyway.
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