Haas driver Kevin Magnussen goes back to karting roots to prepare for "tricky" F1 return

Haas

Magnussen goes back to karting roots to prepare for "tricky" F1 return

Karting tracks have re-opened in Denmark as lockdown measures have eased

Ian Parkes

Tuesday 5 May 2020 12:37

Kevin Magnussen has revealed he is preparing for the new Formula 1 season by returning to go-karting.

Magnussen's home country of Denmark recently became one of the first nations across Europe to ease lockdown restrictions.

That has resulted in businesses re-opening, including go-kart tracks, which in turn has allowed Haas driver Magnussen to get behind the wheel of a kart again and tune up his racing skills.

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Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Magnussen said: “I’m so happy that we can now get on the kart track, in a go-kart, that helps a lot.

“I love karting. Driving a go-kart is just as much fun as driving a Formula 1 car. Obviously, you're missing the competition and it’s not quite the same, but at least it gets you in kind of a racing mindset.

“On top of that, it’s massively physical as well. I find karting the best sort of training. I feel way more tired and exhausted after a day of karting then even the hardest day of training, so it’s very good.

"Usually, at least where I come from, I’m not able to kart in the winter because of the snow. Tracks are closed.

“This situation where we’re getting into the summer soon and tracks are opening, it’s a new situation, so I’m using that and taking the opportunity to really get back into karting and drive myself into physical shape.”

F1 is currently planning on a July start to the season in Austria, albeit under strict controls for all team members to combat the threat of the coronavirus, what F1 managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn has called a 'biosphere' situation.

Brawn is due to unveil his plans to the drivers next week.

Assessing the prospect of racing again, Magnussen said: "It’s gonna be tricky, and it’s gonna be a big job to get it done, but anything it takes to get back to racing, I’m up for it.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure we do it in a safe way for everyone. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than not racing by a long way.

“Well see what the measures will be and what we need to do but from what we hear it’s already quite a lot and it’s going to be very different."