Guenther Steiner says Kevin Magnussen returned to the FIA Formulation 1 World Championship in 2022 ‘mentally loads stronger’ than he was throughout his first spell within the sport.
The Dane returned to the Haas F1 Staff after a yr away from Formulation 1 after the crew had opted to interchange each himself and Romain Grosjean with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin in 2021.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spelled the top of Mazepin’s stick with the crew forward of the 2022 season, and Haas opted to name upon the expertise of Magnussen, who had spent 4 years with the crew beforehand after earlier spells with the McLaren F1 Staff and Renault F1 Staff.
The Dane had been set to race within the FIA World Endurance Championship with Peugeot Sport previous to the cellphone name from Haas, and he had additionally made his NTT IndyCar Sequence debut in 2021.
Magnussen took benefit of the chance and a much-improved Haas automotive – the crew put all their focus in 2021 on their 2022 VF-22 – to safe a wonderful fifth place within the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and he ended the yr with a maiden pole place for the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Steiner, the Staff Principal at Haas, says Magnussen changing into a father and being requested to return each contributed to his new mentality, and he has the self-confidence and perception to enhance on his driving abilities as properly.
“It’s age, being a dad, being referred to as again as a substitute of begging to get a seat is a unique story as properly,” stated Steiner to Motorsport.com. “It performs together with your thoughts as properly.
“It provides a variety of confidence. This can be a lot about how you’re mentally robust. I feel in the meanwhile, he’s simply mentally loads stronger than he was years in the past.”
Magnussen might be joined at Haas by Nico Hülkenberg in 2023 after Schumacher’s contract was not prolonged, and Steiner says he believes the 2 drivers have the psychological energy to take the crew ahead.
“I feel so,” stated Steiner. “That’s our hope. That’s why we did the choice.”
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