Haas Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen confident of having a 'good car' in 2020

Magnussen

Magnussen confident of having a 'good car' in 2020

Can the VF20 live up to Magnussen's expectations?

Sam Hall

Friday 14 February 2020 16:47

Kevin Magnussen enters his sixth full-time season as a Formula One driver, sitting out all but one race in 2015 after being dropped by McLaren, and the Dane is confident that his Haas team have developed a stronger package than in 2019.

The Pirelli tyres made life difficult for most every team in the paddock in 2019, but no team suffered with making the rubber work more than Haas.

In a Q&A published by the Haas team, Magnussen was asked about his expectations for the coming season.

Article continues under video

“I guess it depends on how the pre-season test has gone," said Magnussen. "If the test shows you’ve got a bad car, then the expectation for the first race is a little bit different.

Gene Haas: 'I’m pleased to see the car return to the more familiar Haas Automation colours'Read more

"Similarly, if you know you’ve got a good car, then you’re very excited for the first race. I’m very excited for the test this year. I’m confident we’ll have a good car.”

“I think, generally, you try to approach testing the same way independent of your own expectations and fears or worries. You try to go about it in a professional way, and you try to help the team as well as you can. You have to do what it takes to get yourself up to speed. Then you’re just hopeful, and maybe anxious, about getting a good car.

"You just have to make sure you help the team the best way you can to correct any faults or weaknesses there might be with the car. In the last two preseason tests, the team has provided a car that’s felt very good and very competitive."

Haas suffered the worst season in their short history of competing in Formula One in 2019. A points total of just 28 saw them fall a single point short of the total scored in their debut season in 2016.

Grosjean: Barcelona testing masked Haas problems in 2019Read more

Previously a team on a consistently upwards trajectory, Haas managed to finished fifth in the 2018 constructors' standings and it is this previous success that has allowed Magnussen to remain confident in the ability of Haas to turn things back around.

"In 2018 that then proved to be very competitive throughout the season, leading to our top-five placing," continued Magnussen. "We didn’t achieve that in 2019, but at least in preseason testing the car felt very quick, and we showed over the season that it was very quick at times.

"It just had some weaknesses that proved to be a big problem in the races. I’m confident that the team is going to provide another good car this year. Hopefully we’ve learned from the mistakes of last year so we can have a good season. I’m very confident on that."