Magnussen: I've never had negative feedback from F1 teams
Kevin Magnussen says his former Formula 1 teams have never given him negative feedback about his work ethic.
The Dane parted ways with Renault after a single season, with managing director Cyril Abiteboul telling French media recently that he lacks discipline and commitment.
Sources at Renault and former team McLaren have questioned about his work ethic but when asked for his view, Magnussen said: "I've heard things before, but never from the team.
"Sometimes you're unlucky one guy says something to the press and that becomes the official opinion of the whole team.
"But it's just one guy, so I don't take that seriously."
Magnussen spent a year at McLaren in 2014 but lost the battle with Jenson Button to retain the seat alongside Fernando Alonso.
He spent 2015 as McLaren reserve and then joined Renault for last season as a late replacement for Pastor Maldonado, whose sponsorship didn't materialise.
The Dane stayed just one season before choosing to join Haas, with Renault selecting Jolyon Palmer to stay on alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
When asked why his stints at McLaren and Renault didn't work out, Magnussen said: "I've been unlucky. With Renault, it just didn't work out and we parted ways.
"I'm in a better place now so I'm looking forward.
"With McLaren, I wanted to continue with the team and the team wanted to continue with me but for political reasons at the top it didn't happen.
"That's a different situation to what happened here.
"It's more I wanted to join Haas and Haas wanted me - so it happened.
"I have nothing against [Renault or McLaren], this is Formula 1, it's a tough business, these things happen so no bad feelings at all."
Multi-year deal a motivation
Magnussen joined the American team on a multi-year deal and takes comfort from the belief owner Gene Haas and team principal Gunther Steiner have shown in him.
"It's a different feeling coming to a team that wants you and signed you because they think you can deliver something they want," he said.
"It's motivating, there's no secret it motivates you and I can't wait for the season to start.
"I had a long relationship with McLaren and McLaren also chose me very early.
"They showed great commitment as well.
"Last year with Renault, it was a very late deal and they lost a driver because he lost a sponsor so that was the way it worked there.
"This is a very different story, it's back to real racing again and the question is about performance rather than commercial stuff."
Share Or Save This Story
Rowland to test Super Formula car this month
Sirotkin, Stroll to have two race engineers each
Hamilton "sacrifice" saved Mercedes an hour of testing
Title battles and bittersweet farewells headline packed 54-car Petit Le Mans grid
Kevin Magnussen vs. Noah Gragson NASCAR feud: A lap-by-lap breakdown
Kevin Magnussen's NASCAR debut is part of post-F1 'open mind' to global motorsports
Dropped Esteban Ocon defiant: Formula 1 is “where I belong”
Five contenders to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
You Ask The Questions: Esteban Ocon
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Turner Motorsport chases unprecedented North American sports car title trifecta
WRC Sardinia: Thierry Neuville snatches lead from Adrien Fourmaux as Hyundai remains on top
Winward faces Petit Le Mans challenge in bid for IMSA GTD three-peat
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia
The hidden F1 performance differentiator nobody is talking about in 2026
As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?
Top 10 F1 results changed by backmarkers – the passes
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments