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Column | Magnussen or Fittipaldi? Why Haas made their choice

Column | Magnussen or Fittipaldi? Why Haas made their choice

10-03-2022 06:55 Last update: 07:26

Rishi Wig

In a surprising move, it was announced that Kevin Magnussen, would be making his full-time racing return at Formula One with the Haas F1 team. With Nikita Mazepin's contract being terminated, many expected reserve driver, Pietro Fittipaldi, to be given a call-up. We take a look at why the decision was made for the Dane's return.

Pietro Fittipaldi

Pietro Fittipaldi has been a well-liked member of the Haas F1 team for several years now. As the grandson of two time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, he has worked hard in the wings as both test and reserve driver to help keep the team functioning in the background. A well-spoken and dedicated driver, he has helped with the engineers in the background, assisting them in the simulator to better develop the car for the coming 2022 season. 

After Nikita Mazepin had his contract terminated, many would’ve expected him to take the seat alongside Mick Schumacher. He, as the reserve driver, is the one on which the Haas team relies to make the step-in on short notice. Considering the nature of the termination and the time frame till the season starts, his position warrants the step-up. However, Steiner believes that his promotion into a full-time seat would’ve been premature, as he felt that more time in an F1 seat would’ve been required if he were to get the call.

Kevin Magnussen

The 29-year-old raced with Haas from 2017 to 2020, performing well alongside his teammate Romain Grosjean. A brilliantly robust driver in wheel-to-wheel combat, he has made somewhat of a reputation for himself when it comes to “blurring the lines” between hard racing and dangerous manoeuvres. Respected within the world of Formula One and considered as one of the more underrated drivers on the grid, his return would be marked by great joy within both the team and the racing paddock.

Magnussen is also a better-known commodity when it comes to racing at Haas. While his tenure at the American outfit was marked equally with a sharp rise and steep decline in the team’s form, he will be rejuvenated from his time away. Excited by the prospect of rejoining F1, with faith replenished in him and with the resources poured into the new generation of cars, he will be chomping at the bit to get stuck in and start racing once more.

What now?

If this was Fittipaldi’s one and only breakthrough opportunity into F1, it is well & truly gone. He may have fancied his chances, as he is taking the reins of the car for the preseason testing out in Bahrain. With that time under his belt, adapting to a new car, many would be forgiven for thinking that Haas would run the opportunity to have the Brazilian and begin to build the team around two young drivers for their future in F1. Yet, experience has triumphed over youth in this decision. 

Even though he is rejoining a team where he spent a majority of his career, Magnussen’s surroundings will not all be entirely familiar: he will not have race engineer Gary Gannon, who now works with Mick Schumacher. Moreover, the new car will be completely different from what he is accustomed to. However, he has already begun communications with the team and will likely continue them with Mick Schumacher, so as to understand the intricacies of the car, handling, setup etc. With four years of experience with the Haas F1 team, it will only be a matter of time till he fires on all cylinders for the American outfit.