Kevin Magnussen praised Haas’ composure as it recovered from its Australia setback to equal its best-ever Formula 1 finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Magnussen started from sixth on the grid and effectively preserved his position throughout, profiting from the retirements of Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen, while losing out to the recovering Lewis Hamilton.
The result came two weeks after both Haas drivers retired from strong positions in Australia due to cross-threaded wheel nuts in the pits, with fifth equalling Haas’ highest-ever classification, achieved by Romain Grosjean at the same venue two years ago.
“P5 is a good way to start the championship because what we’ve done is start our bit of the championship so, you know, I’m really happy,” he said.
“I’m really pleased, proud of the team, especially the guys in the pit stop who had a tough time between Australia and here.
“Just, you know, went back to basics and they did what they do best so they really delivered and I’m extremely proud of them.”
Magnussen added that he took it easy for much of the race after banging wheels with Nico Hulkenberg on the opening lap, once he realised that any chase of Pierre Gasly was futile.
“I had fairly big contact with one of the Renaults and it was ok for a while but then it started vibrating a lot and I was so nervous that it was going to break,” said Magnussen.
“I started backing off the kerbs and you know, you lose some lap time so I knew I didn’t really have a fight on my hands to Gasly, but I was in a good position in P5 and I just wanted it to not break and carry it home.”
Team-mate Grosjean was classified in 13th position after he was forced into an unscheduled pit stop due to bargeboard damage.
“If I hadn’t lost my bargeboard I’d have finished potentially seventh or eighth,” reckoned Grosjean.
“That was a problem – losing parts as we’re just running on track. On those two laps, the car was absolutely undriveable.”
