Kevin Magnussen says he wanted to “try something special” with a spectacular charge on the first lap of his final Formula 1 start with Haas in Abu Dhabi.
The Dane started 14th and helped by the Max Verstappen/Lando Norris clash and some charging moves he was up to seventh place by the end of the first lap.
However a slow first pit stop cost him time, and later his race was effectively ended when he was hit by Valtteri Bottas.
The team then gave him the chance to grab fastest lap on soft tyres right at the end, mirroring what Daniel Ricciardo did in Singapore with VCARB.
“The enjoyable part was lap one,” said Magnussen. “I knew I wanted to try something special, and just go balls to the wall and try to make up for the qualifying.
“And I did. I came around P7 from P14. So just unfortunate with the slow pit stop, which kind of ruined the race, and then afterwards, of course, the contact with Bottas.
“Gave it a go, tried our best, nothing to show for it, but still been a privilege to come back to F1. And these last three years have been a real challenge, but a real privilege as well. And very thankful, very excited for the future. I wish the team all the best.”
Magnussen has accepted that he is unlikely to race again in F1 and is now focussed on his BMW sportscar drive for 2025.
“I’ve been in this situation before, so it’s kind of getting old,” he said. “I think somehow the emotions I’ve been through it before, in a way. It doesn’t really feel like the last time, somehow. I think as I said, I’m very thankful, and just feel good.”
He also made sure to make his last F1 start a family event: “It was very enjoyable to share this moment with my daughter and my wife, on the grid. We sat there just looking.
“My daughter won’t remember when she grows old, but ‘ll certainly remember for the rest of my life just to sit there. She was excited and proud to be there on the grid. She loves being around here. She loves supporting her dad, and that means a lot.”
