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Magnussen insists the Canadian GP radio rant wasn't as a criticism of the team

Magnussen insists the Canadian GP radio rant wasn't "as a criticism of the team"

13-06-2019 12:39
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen has insisted his outspoken team radio rant during the Canadian Grand Prix wasn't a criticism of the team at all, but rather frustration as he knows how good the car can be.

After crashing his car during Q2 of qualifying, Magnussen was set to start from the pitlane as his VF-19 needed a new gearbox among other things. The race didn't go much better either, as the former McLaren driver struggled massively with pace, even trailing behind the Williams car of George Russell.

He subsequently went on the team radio and held, in the eye of the spectators, a really harsh rant.

Speaking to Danish news source Ekstra Bladet, Magnussen cleared the air, saying his intentions were never to criticise Haas as a team.

“My comment in the race was not meant as a criticism of the team,” the 26-year-old insisted.

“It was more an expression of these huge frustrations about being so helpless in a car that is so good.

“The whole team is insanely frustrated. After all, we all know what the potential is, and then we get some tyres that do not fit our car at all, you just get frustrated.”

Magnussen finished the race in 17th, only having Robert Kubica behind him of the cars that finished the race. An incredibly frustrating result, given the recent uptick in performance from the American side.

“The whole team is as competitive as I am, and equally keen to do well. They are just as frustrated, I know."

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