Williams driver Alex Albon didn’t hold back in his criticism of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen after the Dutch Grand Prix, accusing the Dane of “crossing the line” with what he described as “dangerous” defensive driving tactics. The incident occurred as Magnussen, who started from the pit lane, was tasked by Haas to hold up rival drivers in a bid to benefit his teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
Magnussen’s defensive driving led to a dramatic sequence where Albon, alongside Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso, and Lance Stroll, was forced to navigate a roadblock at Turn 1. Albon immediately voiced his frustration over the team radio, highlighting the dangerous nature of Magnussen’s maneuvers.
Reflecting on the incident, Albon drew parallels with the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where Magnussen was penalized for similarly aggressive driving. “Kevin’s a great team player, but there’s a limit. He was braking in the middle of fast corners, which made it really dangerous. That’s crossing the line,” Albon asserted.
Albon’s concerns were echoed by Gasly, who was equally critical of Magnussen’s tactics. “I’ve never seen someone lifting in Turn 14 or using first gear in Turn 12. It’s dangerous and could easily lead to a crash,” Gasly remarked.
Despite his frustration, Albon acknowledged the strategy behind Magnussen’s actions, recognizing the intense competition among midfield teams for the last few points-paying positions. “For teams like us, P9 and P10 are incredibly valuable. Every team does it—sacrificing one driver to help the other. But there’s a fine line, and that line was crossed today,” Albon said.
The incident has reignited the debate over F1’s current points system, with some drivers and teams arguing for a broader range of points to be awarded, potentially reducing the need for such aggressive tactics. However, a proposal to extend points to the top 15 finishers was rejected at a recent F1 Commission meeting, meaning the fierce battles for the final points-paying positions are likely to continue.
As it stands, Magnussen remains just two penalty points away from a race ban, and Albon’s comments will undoubtedly add to the scrutiny on the Haas driver’s conduct on track. With safety concerns mounting, the pressure is on Formula 1’s governing body to revisit its approach to policing defensive driving before a serious incident occurs.
