It has been said that the greatest gift in life is a second chance.
Another opportunity to rectify the wrongs of a previous attempt, whether in sport or the workplace, it can often be the catalyst to a stronger performance, with the added benefit of knowing what led to the previous failure.
In many sports, such as football and rugby, a second opportunity is so often the norm for both players and coaches alike. However, in Formula 1, this is rarely the case.
Adrian Sutil, Romain Grosjean and Nico Hulkenberg are some of the lucky few who were given another opportunity after exiting the sport prematurely, with both Grosjean and Hulkenberg still applying their trade in F1 and to great acclaim.
Both Grosjean and Hulkenberg fought hard to gain their second attempt in F1, with the former dominating GP2 and the latter taking a reserve role with Force India, however few could argue that either driver did not deserve their return to the top of single seater racing.
Of the many drivers who have been gifted a rare second opportunity in the sport, few are more deserving than Kevin Magnussen, who has taken over from Pastor Maldonado in the newly formed Renault F1 team.
CRUEL
In many people’s opinion, the Dane was cruelly dropped from McLaren at the end of the 2014 season after impressing in what was considered an underwhelming car by the Woking-based squad’s standards.
Magnussen had enjoyed a successful start to his F1 career, taking a podium in the first race of his career in Melbourne, beating then team-mate Jenson Button, however this was to be the only top three finish of his maiden season.
A difficult 2014 campaign was marred by a less-than-impressionable McLaren MP4-29, which fell behind the pacesetting Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and fellow engine customer Williams.
I'm sure he's now going to be unbelievably motivated to do a good job and show McLaren why he shouldn't have been dropped – Vasseur
However, for McLaren all eyes remained on 2015 and the return of Japanese car giant Honda as engine supplier. Expectations were raised further when the Woking team re-signed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso from Ferrari.
With the announcement of Alonso’s return, the audition for the second seat for 2015 began between Magnussen and Button. Both drivers would not claim another podium in 2014, however Button was to finish higher in the drivers’ standings, scoring 126 points to Magnussen’s 55.
Despite eventually losing the battle to Button, many were sympathetic of Magnussen who, unfortunately for him, was a victim of circumstance, having to make way for an incoming world champion.
ABILITY
For many within the sport, there is little doubt that Magnussen has the ability to achieve great things within F1, a feeling that is shared by his new Renault team-mate Jolyon Palmer.
"He's a good driver who has proven what he can do in F1 already," Palmer said.
"If they were struggling to decide who should stay between Kevin and Jenson then that says something about him.
"I'm sure he's now going to be unbelievably motivated to do a good job and show McLaren why he shouldn't have been dropped."
More importantly, this admiration is also shared by his employers and the new Renault racing director Frédéric Vasseur was also quick to praise his new driver upon his arrival.
“He had a strong race season at McLaren two years ago and showed his ability in the junior categories such as Formula Renault 3.5,” Vasseur said. “He can target winning races and championships as he has the talent.
“The fact he had a lack of mileage last year will motivate him and he’ll be chomping at the bit to get back into it all.
“It’s important for us because we all know 2016 won’t be an easy season. We know where we are starting from and we need motivated characters like Kevin to keep pushing hard.”
Astonishing that a driver is regarded so highly by many after one season, in which he was consistently outperformed by his team-mate, albeit a vastly more experienced one.
Two years out would have been the end [of my F1 career] – Magnussen
As mentioned by Vasseur, a lot of this admiration derives from his championship winning Formula Renault 3.5 season in 2013, which eventually led to McLaren promoting Magnussen to F1.
The Dane took five victories from a possible 17, one more than McLaren colleague Stoffel Vandoorne in a tightly fought championship. Impressively, Magnussen managed to finish 60 points clear of the Belgian with fantastic consistency, finishing off the podium just four times throughout the year.
"I see a raw, unfettered enthusiasm and a fearsome work ethic,” former McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale proclaimed back in 2014 during pre-season testing.
"His arrival has been a terrific motivator for the entire team, and I've been really pleased and impressed by the way he's thrown himself into the process."
LADY LUCK
Unfortunately, as so many drivers will realise at some point in their respective careers, a strong CV of results and some glowing references is not enough to guarantee a seat at the very top of motorsport.
On this occasion, however, lady luck threw Magnussen a lifeline, with Renault forced to make a driver change after sponsorship issues forced Venezuelan Maldonado out of the team.
The Dane, humbly, is very aware of the opportunity that has been thrown his way and, when asked by reporters whether Renault had saved his career, remained honest and thankful.
"Two years out would have been the end," Magnussen told Autosport .
"If you're world champion, you might be able to come back. But in my position, being out for two years would have been the end of my F1 career.
It's not only a Formula 1 drive but it's a top drive. I can't believe I'm now a part of it – Magnussen
"This was make or break. Luckily, I made it."
For 2016, one of most intriguing match-ups on the grid will be the inter-team battle between Palmer and Magnussen in Renault, with both drivers boasting plenty of experience of being within an F1 team, if not racing for one.
Palmer already has experience within Enstone to help integrate into a full-time driver’s role, whilst Magnussen has the aforementioned year as a McLaren driver and development reserve.
The requirement heading into the first race of the season in Australia for both drivers will be to defeat the other.
“When you are in F1 any driver that is your team-mate is a challenge because they are the best drivers in the world," the former GP2 champion Palmer stated.
"I can't really kid myself it was going to be any other way. You look down the grid and you have to be at the top of your game.
"He maybe has the advantage with a year's race experience, but I know the team well, I travelled with them all last year, I drove last year's car and managed to get a fair amount of mileage.
"We're both drivers that had a year out last year, so it's whatever you want to make of it, but I feel we're reasonably even."
PRESSURE
The pressure is on for both Renault drivers, however perhaps more so with Magnussen who returns after a year out to right the wrongs of 2014.
Whilst it is yet to be seen how Renault will perform as a returning manufacturer, and how well the French car giant has developed their engine from an underwhelming 2015 season, the car’s performance will be irrelevant in the battle for top dog in Enstone.
However Magnussen, for now, is happy that a lifeline has been thrown his direction and a second chance to prove to the world of motorsport why one of its giants McLaren was wrong to dump him.
"It's an incredible feeling and it means so much,” Magnussen told Sky Sports News HQ.
“It's not only a Formula 1 drive but it's a top drive. Renault Sport will be fighting for world championships in the future, it might have a build-up phase, but they're here to win and that's a goal I share.
“I can't believe I'm now a part of it."
