Magnussen hoping for strategy advantage with P11 start

Kevin Magnussen says that he is hoping he will be able to benefit from a differing strategy during Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix. The Dane failed to make it into Q3, meaning he will not have to start the race on the ultra soft tyres he used in Q2.

Magnussen can choose what tyre compound he wishes to start the race on, and is likely to choose a harder tyre in order to go longer into the race on his first stint. Following qualifying, Magnussen admitted that he feels "a little bit lucky" to be starting from where he is.

"I did miss out on Q3 but I’m not sure I’m unlucky," he said. "Probably not a bad position. I tried my best but I just messed up both the out-lap and the lap itself, ended up in P11. We’ve been through a whole lot of thinking about how to go about this because of the ultra-soft and the struggle you might have if you start on it. So I actually feel a little bit lucky to be honest."

With everyone in front of Magnussen having no choice but to start on the ultra soft tyres that were used in Q2, the 25-year-old will be looking to pounce on drivers who will struggle for grip as the purple-walled ultra soft tyre loses performance.

"That’s what we’ll have to wait and see," he said when asked how big was his strategic advantage. "Obviously I hope it’s going to be a big advantage. With the hotter temperatures that’s forecast it could be a big advantage. The ultra-soft has been working alight in the cold temperatures, overcast and cold weather, they’ve been OK, but still even in those conditions it was on the limit for many teams."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country DK
  • Date of b. Oct 5 1992 (33)
  • Place of b. Roskilde, DK
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile
show sidebar