Kevin Magnussen "grateful for living childhood dream" after Abu Dhabi F1 farewell tour

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Magnussen "grateful for living childhood dream" after Abu Dhabi F1 farewell tour

Magnussen brought a six-season run in the sport to an end in Abu Dhabi

Ewan Gale

Sunday 13 December 2020 19:02

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Haas driver Kevin Magnussen expressed his thanks for being given the opportunity to fulfil his "childhood dream" after completing his final Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Magnussen finished ahead of only team-mate Pietro Fittipaldi in Abu Dhabi as he closed the book on his eight-year spell in the sport, six of which he spent in race seats with McLaren, Renault and Haas.

The Dane told Sky Sports F1 he felt "a bit strange" after the race having struggled for pace throughout but that he would look back fondly on his career.

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"It wasn't a good race for us at all, we were dead slow," he added. "I feel just grateful for having got the opportunity to live my childhood dream and have a career in Formula 1.

"It is not an easy place to get to. I got six seasons, raced with some amazing teams and I have a trophy at home with the Formula 1 logo on it. Not too bad, I think I am happy about that."

Magnussen joins Chip Ganassi's IMSA sportscar programme for 2021 with the aim of fighting for victories and conceded the move would likely signal the end of his F1 career.

"I miss winning a lot. I miss being in a winning position," he explained. "I miss being in a position where I can focus on a championship and really go for wins.

"It is not realistic to leave Formula 1 now and go and do IMSA or anything and then come back into a winning position in Formula 1. If I was going to stay, I would want to move forward and go for wins and that is not going to happen.

"I am really looking forward to what I am going to do now and super excited, that makes it a lot easier to step out of this because I know I am going to be in a winning car."

When asked what memories he would take from his time in the sport, Magnussen said: "For sure, driving these amazing cars.

"From next year onwards, the cars are going to be slower so at least I got to drive the fastest generation of cars."