Kevin Magnussen has finally seen a resurgence in his recent Formula 1 performances, and he’s attributing the change to crucial adjustments in the braking system of his Haas VF-24. In the last two races, Magnussen has outpaced teammate Nico Hulkenberg and delivered standout results, including earning points in the United States Sprint and converting a strong qualifying position in Mexico into a seventh-place finish.
For much of the season, Magnussen grappled with brake issues that left him feeling out of sync with the car. “I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems like there’s been a couple of changes to the car,” he shared, referring to updates Haas implemented recently. “Certainly the last two races, I’ve been very, very confident with the car.”
According to Magnussen, the breakthrough came from addressing a “lag” in brake response that had been hurting his performance in corner entries. Previously, Magnussen’s braking pressure was higher than Hulkenberg’s, an indication he was overcompensating for the delay in brake response. The delayed bite disrupted his rhythm, making corner entries unpredictable and affecting his overall confidence.
“This season, when I hit the brakes, they have a bit of lag, and then they bite after a little while,” he explained. “That initial feeling of needing the brakes to switch on immediately—that’s been really hurting my confidence on the entries.”
The recent adjustments seem to have brought immediate stability. However, Magnussen remains cautiously optimistic, acknowledging the need to test the changes across different circuits. “Hopefully it’s not temperature-related,” he added. “But certainly, it coincided with making that change.”
Despite his recent form, Magnussen’s improved performance comes too late to change Haas’ 2025 plans. The team has already announced a new line-up featuring Esteban Ocon and promising young driver Ollie Bearman. When asked if he felt frustrated by this timing, Magnussen admitted, “Yeah, of course. I would have liked to have that change early in the year, that’s for sure.”
Magnussen’s recent performances, paired with his confidence on the track, may still open doors for him in the F1 paddock as teams look toward 2025 and beyond. For now, the Danish driver appears set on capitalizing on these improvements to close out his Haas tenure on a high note.
