Magnussen protests Baku suspension: 'Commissioners don't want race battles'

Kevin Magnussen, forever the first. For the first time since the introduction of the points-based license in 2014, a driver will undergo a suspension race, and it is the Dane who has the sad honor of opening the show. On borrowed time for several Grands Prix with two points remaining on his license, the driver Haas had to behave himself and not commit any faults until March 9, 2025 to see his counter increase again.

Unfortunately, on Sunday the fault came from contact with Pierre Gasly, in a daring attack in the second chicane at Monza. A 10-second penalty with two points removed from his license, the two remaining, and therefore an automatic suspension race for the next round, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (September 13-15). A small mistake with serious consequences for Kevin Magnussen who does not understand the severity of the sanction for the incident with the Frenchman.

“We had a slight contact with Gasly, no damage to either car, no consequences on the race, we just had a slight contact and [we] missed the corner. So what? We were in the race, exclaimed the Dane from Sky Sports, who compares his penalty with that imposed on Daniel Ricciardo at the start of the race. Nico [Hulkenberg] was almost thrown into the wall at 300 km/h by Ricciardo. I'm not saying he did it on purpose, but he still got five seconds, and I got ten. It doesn't add up at all."

 

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Gasly ready to defend Magnussen

Throughout the first few Grands Prix, Kevin Magnussen has accumulated penalties and lost points on his license for various reasons, including collisions with other drivers. However, the Haas driver admits he does not understand the consistency in the penalties and regrets the severity of some of them.

“Even if I go and talk [to the stewards] – I’ve talked to them many times, too many times – I still don’t understand what the rules are. I feel like they’re just throwing [penalties], they don’t want any battles in the race. If this thing between Gasly and me can’t be considered a racing incident, then I don’t know what can. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Moreover, Pierre Gasly himself defended Kevin Magnussen after the Italian Grand Prix, calling the sanction "unfair"The Frenchman even indicated that he would be " happy " to testify in favour of the Dane to avoid a race suspension, but the sanction has already been taken by the FIA. Haas will therefore have to count on another driver in Baku. Logically, it is Ollie Bearman, reserve driver at Haas and future regular driver in 2025, who should take the wheel of the VF-24 in Azerbaijan.

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