After Kevin Magnussen earned a podium in his F1 debut, he never got another podium. On paper, the Dane didn’t accomplish much in his ten-year F1 car, which doesn’t include the breaks he took because he couldn’t find a team. So it’s easy to dismiss him as another forgettable driver who was there to fill a seat because someone had to.

But if you really take a look at his results and greatest accomplishments under a microscope. And considering the context, you’ll see how dismissive this look is. As you’ll see, a brave and confident talent who was not given the right opportunity throughout his long career. A fast driver who, while reckless, was often on his day and one of the fastest drivers out there.

Kevin Magnussen’s year at McLaren!

As I said, he only got a single podium in his career, but that doesn’t tell you how impressive that podium really was. In his F1 debut, he beat his ex-World Champion teammate Button, who didn’t have an off day either. As he took the podium stand right by Kevin Magnussen, finishing 3rd in Australia that day, right behind the debuting Dane.

But there were other, better drivers and cars Kevin Magnussen beat that afternoon. Not counting the disqualified Ricciardo. He beat world champions like Alonso and Räikkönen that day and other quality drivers in cars that, for the most part, were better than that year’s McLaren. Like Bottas, Hülkenberg, Sutil, Daniil Kvyat, and Pérez. With all other notable drivers retiring early in the race due to various issues.

Despite their downturn in results, McLaren was still in win-now mode. Believing they were one or two steps away from becoming world champions again. Of course, reality would tell us another thing in due time. But part of McLaren figuring that out was hiring Alonso, the two-time world champion, to drive for them in 2015. Replacing their promising rookie and making him a reserve driver for the team, and wasting a year of his development.

Kevin’s rubbish period with Renault!

K-Mag only raced once in 2015. In the same opening weekend, he got the podium he wouldn’t even start. His car broke down before he could do a lap. And Kevin Magnussen wouldn’t race a single lap in F1 in the 2015 F1 season. It was unusual to see such a promising talent out after only a year, especially as Alonso and Button struggled with a worse car than 2014’s.

But the Dane’s time on the sidelines wouldn’t last long. As Renault would pick him up for 2016. Making him a crucial part of the manufacturer’s return to the sport. Buying back the Lotus team, they also sold their old championship-winning operation to. Looking to build back to their glory days.

Sadly for Magnussen and the team, they would pick up where Lotus left off, struggling mightily. He did have his highlights. Like scoring points in Russia and his favorite track Signapore. As well as showing off that Viking aggression and bravery with incredible overtakes, such as his overtake on Danny Ric during that Russian Grand Prix. Out honey badgering the honey badger. Or another brave maneuver on his young teammate Jolyon Palmer (who he beat in both qualifying and in the races) in the USA. Almost crashing into him and passed off track at the same time. But having the incredible instincts and judgement to perfectly slot into that tight gap, allowing a legal overtake without taking out both Renaults.

But aside from brief moments that showed the Dane’s wheel-to-wheel talent and those two points finishes. It was mostly anonymous finishes outside the points after anonymous finishes outside the points. Kevin Magnussen even struggled to get good qualifying runs out of the 2016 Renault. Never getting into Q3 once all year. Something you’ll find is bad for his standards.

So it was a shock to no one when he left the French outfit after 2016.

Kevin Magnussen’s first Haas stint!

The Dane had a great 2017. Finishing in the points semi-regularly with the at the time brand new American team. Outdoing the man he was replacing, Esteban Guterriez, who didn’t score a single point with Haas in 2016. And with the American outfit still adapting to the ruthless world of F1, and everyone knowing Haas wasn’t coming in with the budget of a Ferrari or a Red Bull. His performances through the season impressed most who cared to check.

But when talking about his wheel-to-wheel highlights. His 2017 highlight had to be the audacious double overtake he made on Massa and Ocon at Singapore. Banging wheels with Massa underneath the lights and tunnels of his favorite street course. And of course, when his Viking defense angered Nico Hulkenberg. Causing the German to confront him, and in response came K-Mag’s classic, “suck my balls, mate” quote. And in Azerbaijan, he did his best Ricciardo impression. In the same race, the honey badger made his most famous overtake. Kevin Magnussen did a three-wide overtake into turn one of his own.

But 2018 would be the peak for both Kevin Magnussen and Haas as a team so far. Starting with Haas achieving its best qualifying in the team’s history from both its drivers, with Kevin Magnussen qualifying 6th, one spot ahead of his teammate Grosjean. A landmark for the scrappy, underfunded midpack tram.

Then, Kevin Magnussen personally had one of his career highlights at the start of the same GP when he drove past a future multiple-time world champion, Max Verstappen, to get Haas into the top 5. He would earn a career-high 56 points this year and get his only career top-10 points finish with a 9th-place finish at season’s end. Leading Haas to their highest ever finish in constructors with a 5th place.

With Haas’ having their best-ever car, he took full advantage and had plenty of highlights that showed F1 how much of a special talent he was. The car’s pace also allowed Kevin Magnussen to express his confidence and aggressive driving style better than ever, and he did so with a smile. Like early in the year in Azerbaijan, when on a restart, he slammed into Gasly’s car and almost put him into the wall. Almost causing the Frenchman and himself serious injury or worse, two days after he said. “I don’t like compromises. I’ll give everything. I’ll die in the car.” Something that very understandably greatly upset Gasly. And K-Mag got a 10 second pen for that move.

He would earn his first career fastest lap, but not only his first career fastest lap, but a record-breaking one. Until 2025, his 2018 fastest lap was the fastest ever at Singapore, for seven straight years. Lewis Hamilton, in his first year at Ferrari, finally broke that record, but it takes a heck of a driver to have a record stand for years and to be broken by a driver with seven world championships and 100+ wins.

Kevin Magnussen did another daring overtake on a future all-time great in rookie Leclerc at one of the most difficult corners to overtake in all of F1 in R-130. Then there was the Danish Viking who angered the two-time world champion in the British GP by stealing his seat, showing how his aggression, determination, and competitiveness translate into his racecraft, keeping his position despite what other drivers may think. Alonso was famously angry with the Dane for his defensive driving, but he offered no apology and continued his aggressive driving style.

The 2019 season would be a struggle for Kevin Magnussen and all of Haas. This was for many reasons. Like the struggles to adapt to the new tire compounds, both of their aggressive drivers burned through them very quickly. So he still had a great qualifying pace early in the year. Achieving laps like a 6th in Bahrain and 5th in Monaco. But since the tires would wear fast, he couldn’t keep pace in the race. So rarely scored points.

But the central problem that crippled Haas in 2019, and for years to come, was their sponsor, Rich Energy. The energy drink that claimed to be better than Red Bull, despite no one ever seeing it in any stores or anywhere they could actually buy the drink. Claimed to be better than Red Bull as part of their social media stunt marketing. Which would also make memes and tweets mocking the very team they were sponsoring. They were supposed to be what launched Haas into becoming the best midpack team. But that was because they were supposed to pay them, but they didn’t.

The missed payments led to lawsuits, and they fell behind every other team that had stable sponsorship who paid them every week. But despite all of that, Kevin Magnussen got it done in the races, too. Such as his four-point finishes, four of seven, Haas would achieve that year. Including their highest finish of the year at the opening GP in Australia, finishing in 6th. A testament not only to his talent but also to his work ethic and mental toughness.

But the suffering of 2019 would be the prelude to the worst year of his career, 2020. A year that Haas finished 9th in the Constructors ‘ standings by year’s end. Only beating a Williams team that didn’t score a single point all year. And it was the second year of his career; he never broke into Q3 once the whole season. A hard-fought 10th at Hungary was his only points finish all season, which was his last point for two years, as he was on the sidelines for 2021.

Kevin Magnussen’s second Haas stint!

Kevin Magnussen returned to F1 and Haas in 2022. And played the role of a leader, helping Haas recover from their literally pointless 2021 to roaring back into the heart of the midfield. Starting in his first race back, he finished in 5th with Haas. The team’s highest finish since 2018, after a 2021 where they went pointless the whole season. It was a feel-good moment that was a preview of his season to come.

One where Kevin Magnussen had plenty of highlights, as the new Haas gave him many chances to show off the improvements he made in his return to the series. Like in Saudi Arabia, when he went wheel to wheel with one of the greatest ever to do it Hamiliton in the much faster Mercedes. Holding him up for multiple laps to finish 9th and hold Lewis to 10th. Or one of the best overtakes of his career, when in Austria, he sent it 3 wide to overtake Zhou and Alonso in turn one.

But his comeback season would be remembered as the greatest accomplishment of his career. When in the rain at São Paulo in qualfying Kevin Magnussen would shock the racing world when he beat that year’s world champion Verstappen to the pole for his and Haas’ first ever F1 pole. A moment, everyone in F1 celebrated. As a veteran in a midpack car, I managed to top that year’s world champion in the best car. At one of his best tracks in conditions he prefers. It might’ve been a one-off, but don’t get it twisted, it wasn’t a fluke but proof of his immense talent. Because that’s what it takes to do that, even once in those circumstances.

2022 was the best car Haas gave Kevin Magnussen in his comeback as the team struggled with an outdated car design, while the car fitted his new teammate’s driving style, former rival Nico Hulkenberg’s driving style, rather than his own. Along with the tire management problems of 2019, coming back to haunt Haas in 2023. So in 2023 and 2024, he’d spend fighting and scraping for every position he could get. Something he was better at than anyone in the world. But as usual, he wouldn’t be afraid to anger other drivers to earn those spots.

Starting with his intense battle with Alphatauri’s Yuki Tsunoda for the final point in Saudi Arabia. The two drivers were aggressively fighting for 10th, but it was a battle; ultimately, the Viking would beat the Samurai to earn his first point of the season. He initially angered the Japanese driver, but he showed respect after the race.

Something he’d soon follow up with his best performance of the year at the Miami GP. There, the modern-day Viking showed his street course skills and pushed the car where others were more cautious. Not only did he get his shabby Haas into Q3, but he also almost put it on the front of the grid as he qualified in fourth in a mighty effort. But Kevin Magnussen wasn’t done there. As his Haas lost pace throughout the race, the race became the usual Miami chaos. He fought with vigor, great spirit, and confidence to stay in the points. Even bringing anger and despair to every Tifosi in the world as he passed and battled with Charles Leclerc for position, showing how disappointingly slow the car really was.

But that wasn’t the overtake that earned him the Crypto.com overtake of the month award. No, that would be at the most prestigious GP of the whole season at the Monaco GP. When he passed the Williams of Logan Sargeant in the esses before the swimming pool. An overtake at the Monaco GP, being such a difficult thing to achieve in a modern F1 car, is not only is it one of the best shows of his talent. But F1 fans themselves were so impressed, they gave Kevin Magnussen an award for it. Let that all sink in.

His third and final point he earned with a 10th place finish at his favorite track Signapore where he also broke into Q3 sagain starting in 6th. At the Austrian GP sprint, K-Mag even bothered Lewis Hamilton again. Passing the 7-time world champion in the Mercedes in the wet, holding him up for a few turns in their battle for 12th.

But while it shows how much he can outdrive his car and how aggressive he is, that he can even battle with world champions in faster cars like that. But it also shows how few highlights there really were for him in 2023 that I’m even writing about a battle for 12th in a sprint.

Something even he was aware of, although it’d be hard not to be with his teammate Hulkenberg scoring nine points to his three.  “There’s not been any great highlights […] there have been races where I’ve been extremely happy with [tenth], which, you know, just shows what kind of season we’ve had.” Kevin Magnussen said on December 12, 2023.

Since K-Mag left and returned to the sport, many young drivers had debuted and even left the grid during that time. Such as his ex-teammates Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, as well as Zhou Guanyu, Liam Lawson, Oscar Piastri, and Logan Sargeant. With even more on the way for 2024. So I’m sure Kevin Magnussen was aware the walls were closing in on him and his time in F1.

He had more experience than most, and for good reason. But with his lack of pedigree, it made him more vulnerable than most to being the next victim of a driver that’s younger with bigger pockets or the ever alluring higher potential. And with Haas soon going in a direction. Letting go of the team principal who brought him in and reshaping the team from the ground up. His time at Haas was most likely going to come to an end sooner rather than later.

But of course, he wasn’t going to leave quietly. He was going to do everything he could to impress another team into giving him a seat. Even if the officials didn’t approve of his tactics. Setting the stage for a chaotic 2024 season.

Something best shown by his 2024 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. He’d already been known to cause quite a stir at the desert-based street course, and 2024 would be the most trouble he ever stirred up in the authoration-ruled nation. Like him going full Dale Earnhardt and intimidating Albon into an overtake. After the Thai-British pushed him off track and got so mad, Kevin Magnussen yelled on the radio that the stewards should look into it. But Albon, without any input from the stewards, gave him the position in turn one anyway.

Even more notable was when he battled the RB’s of Tsunoda and Ricciardo. Like in 2023, he’d be battling with the hot-headed Yuki Tsunoda for position, but he’d go even further than before. As he wasn’t wasting time with battle, instead he chose to push him off in the early corners, getting rid of him quickly and keeping position. Which also allowed Ocon to overtake the Japanese driver.

But after he passed Ocon, he’d keep trying to pass him, but failed every time. And with his teammate behind, eventually his own team ordered him to get out of the way for Daniel Riccicardio which at one point was the best overtaker on the grid. But K-Mag showed those days had since passed as he successfully defended himself for the rest of the race. But it’d be all for naught as he finished 12th and received two separate time penalties, but helped his teammate Hulk to score Haas’ first points of the year. And the headlines would be dominated by Tsunoda being furious with his team for the team orders, even showing his anger after the race to his teammate by lunging at him multiple times.

The rest of his 2024 would be characterized by going from great moments to being penalized for some reckless move. Such as finishing in the points for the first time in Austrlia only one spot behind his teammate. Where he continued his rivalry with Albon with another intense battle for position. Inculding a impressive overtake on the outside from Kevin Magnussen. Then suffered multiple penalties in the Miami GP, earning 5 penalty points on his Super License. He even got one of those penalties by hitting Hamilton, his favorite victim in the sprint. But followed that up a few races later by crashing into Perez on the opening lap of the Monaco GP.

Then, at the very start of the next race. Kevin Magnussen made a historic charge at the start of the Canadian GP in the wet. Going all the way to fourth place from fourteenth on the grid, outshining Hulk, who was the only other driver on the extreme wets. And would’ve scored points if Haas hadn’t forgotten the tires when they called him into the pits. Which he followed up nicely with an 8th at the Austrian GP, helping Hulk finish p6 for another double points day for Haas. Showing the team’s progress under new management.

But then came the most infamous part of his season. During the Italian GP weekend, he and Pierre Gasly collided the stewards awarded him another penalty for that. That gave him 12 penalty points on his Super License, enough to earn him a race ban for the Azerbaijan GP. Which made him the first driver to earn a ban since Romain Grosjean back in 2012. Which gave team owners an extra reason not to sign him in 2025.

Not that it mattered to his Haas prospects. The driver who would replace him for the upcoming 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was already confirmed to replace him for the 2025 season. The British Ferrari prodigy Ollie Bearman had already impressed people when he scored points in his F1 debut with Ferrari. After he replaced Ferrari driver Sainz at the last minute, he came down with an illness. And Haas, being a Ferrari customer team, couldn’t say no to such a great opportunity. Leaving K-Mag out of their 2025 plans.

He made sure to finish his time with Haas strongly. Finishing 7th in Mexico City and 9th at Qatar, the last two points finishes of his career. But he saved his best for the season finale in Abu Dhabi. He used his aggressive driving style to pass multiple cars at the start inculding a Mercedes and a Red Bull. Then he achieved his third and final career fastest lap, making him potentially the only driver to start his career getting a podium and ending it with a fastest lap.

Although he didn’t score a point, he gave fans a couple of good memories to remember his Haas finale by. One’s that showcased his skill and how hard he drove for that team every race he was contracted to them. And some final showcasing of his ability, if this was his last F1 race.

Both 2025 and 2026 went by with no one signing Kevin Magnussen to an F1 seat. Not that he minded. Like his father, Jan, before him, he went from F1 to endurance, signing with BMW in 2025. Racing in both America and Europe with them. Including both the last 24 Hours of Daytona and the 2025 Le Mans race. And he’s made it clear he’s happy where he is and isn’t interested in a return to the grid.

For years, he worked hard to earn results in F1. Working to improve his racecraft and quality over a lap. Now it’s time for him to use all the skills he’s acquired to win races and not scrap for points. Making peace with his time in F1 for all it provided him. Personally, and allowing him to improve and show his passion to the millions who watch F1. Spending longer than most at motorsports’ highest level. Now it’s time for new challanges thanks a bunch for reading!

Image sourced via Kevin Masnussen’s Facebook Page.