F1 News

Magnussen happy with points despite stupid penalty

Magnussen happy with points despite "stupid penalty"

01-10-2019 10:27

Kevin Magnussen says that the overriding emotion after the Russian Grand Prix was happiness, but he was still frustrated by the "stupid penalty" that cost him eighth place after he was forced onto the run off at turn one and failed to go the corrent side of the bollards.

The Dane was battling with the Racing Point of Sergio Perez as he was looking to score Haas' first points since the German Grand Prix and he was forced wide at turn one.

The regulations say that if you go off the track there, you must go around the bollards before rejoining, something Magnussen did not do.

There was a scary Formula 2 crash involving Jack Aitken, Nikita Mazepin and Nobuharu Matsushita, caused by Mazepin's failure to go around the bollards.

Magnussen said: "I made a good start, gained a few positions, had a good first stint followed by a decent second stint, then I lost a few spots at the end and got a stupid penalty.

"That’s how it is I guess. I had lost the position to Perez, lost a load of time, I had dirt on my tires, I’d already lost enough time. Then I get the penalty. I think though, I can speak for the whole team to say it’s been a great relief this weekend to be in contention from the beginning.

"It’s been a great job from the whole team to keep their heads up.”