Kevin Magnussen thought F1 was ‘closed chapter’ earlier than return

Kevin Magnussen mentioned a Method One return felt unattainable till Haas boss Guenther Steiner asked him to come back as Nikita Mazepin’s substitute.

Magnussen, who left Haas and F1 on the finish of 2020, was confirmed again at Haas on Wednesday, forward of this week’s preseason take a look at in Bahrain.

It was a shock return, none extra so for Magnussen himself, who was mentally at peace with the thought of by no means going again.

“I used to be in a cheerful place when Guenther known as me, place,” Magnussen mentioned.

“2021 was actually gratifying for me, I had a daughter, moved again to Denmark, did a season in IMSA which I loved loads too, had enjoyable, did an IndyCar race, did Le Mans with my Dad, so I wasn’t actually eager about F1 loads.

He then referenced his lack of sponsorship, saying: “I sort of really accepted that F1 was a closed chapter, however then after all I noticed Mazepin was out of Haas, I did not assume I had an opportunity to go in there as a result of I nonetheless do not deliver loads different than simply my driving abilities to a crew, so I assumed that it was nonetheless not going to be a chance.”

Magnussen had given a number of interviews over the previous 12 months saying that he had no want to return to F1 if it was to come back to a backmarking or midfield crew, saying he needed to win races, having spent his ultimate two races in a Haas automobile behind the sphere.

Though the aggressive order for the season is unknown it’s unlikely Haas would be the crew to beat this season.

When requested what made him change his thoughts, Magnussen mentioned: “I do not know however I did. In a short time!

“I feel it is one factor saying all that stuff when you do not have a chance to go to F1, then if you truly sit with a chance to return it is totally different. It is also a manner of coping, there is no motive to say I need to return, you get requested loads and I received bored with these questions so it is simpler to take care of it in the event you say I am wanting ahead and I’ve moved on, however then if you get a chance you are taking it.”

When Mazepin’s tenure with the crew was confirmed to be over Steiner solely had one driver in thoughts as his substitute, calling Magnussen because the Dane ready to go on vacation to Miami along with his household.

“When he known as me I mentioned sure instantly,” Magnussen mentioned. “Then after I then considered it! When he requested me immediately I simply mentioned sure, then , these obstacles grew to become fairly clear that I had contracts with different groups, all these ideas about do I want this, however I felt the primary preliminary feeling I had when Gunther known as was so telling.”

Two of these obstacles have been an IMSA contract with Chip Ganassi Racing and a WEC contract with Peugeot, each of which Magnussen needed to get out of earlier than the transfer was confirmed.