Kevin Magnussen admits that he was surprised to be able to repeat the good form he showed in Austin by qualifying an impressive seventh for the Formula 1 Mexico City GP.
With team mate Nico Hulkenberg in 10th Haas has won the first battle of the weekend with constructors’ championship rivals VCARB, whose cars will start from 11th and 12th.
In Austin Magnussen qualified eighth for the sprint and ninth for the main race. However the Dane wasn’t expecting that form to carry over to Mexico.
“We put a good weekend together in Austin,” he said when asked by formu1a.uno about his current form. “Except for the race with the strategy, but it was strong.
“We were thinking that it was going to just be a one-off track specific thing, Come to a very different track here, and it’s good again. So very happy with that, and happy with P7 hoping we can stay ahead of the of the midfield tomorrow.
“There’s a couple of good cars that fell out of Q1 that are probably going to make it through. But if we stay ahead of the midfield, there should be some points.”
Magnussen says recent Haas upgrades appear to have worked as intended.
“I think we had the car in a good spot in Austin,” he said. “And it’s a different track here, but we have been able to just take the same car and put it on track, because it’s high downforce.
“I think it’s showing, of course, that the upgrade has at least not been a bad thing, and I think it’s given us a little bit, which is good. And in this tight midfield, if you even gain half a tenth, it’s going to make a big difference. So I think we’re in a good spot.”
Regarding starting ahead of VCARB he said: “We sort of ticked that box, right? So it’s a long day tomorrow and nothing’s given, it’s a long stretch down to Turn 1 after the start here, a lot of things can happen. So we’ve got to keep it together, and hopefully get some points.”
Meanwhile having been eighth in both Q1 and Q2 Hulkenberg was disappointed with 10th on the final grid.
“It didn’t come together that well, particularly the last run on new tyres,” said the German.
“It’s been a struggle, to be honest, all weekend long. I’m struggling to find the good rhythm, and to get the good connection with the car.
“Some runs are a little bit better than the next run I go out, and it’s kind of back to beginning and struggle for rhythm and harmony.
“So, yeah, it’s been a challenging weekend from that point of view. And quali the same, some laps good, some laps just really kind of a struggle. And at the last one in Q3 wasn’t good, unfortunately.”
