Kevin Magnussen hopes F1’s new regulations will put an end to the “ridiculous and extreme” levels of fuel saving and tyre management that drivers have experienced in the past few years.
A more conservative approach to tyre selection this season by Pirelli should allow drivers to push harder for longer on Sundays, and also permit them to take full advantage of an increased fuel allocation from 105kg to 110kg.
Racing on full throttle from start to finish is an unlikely proposition however, but Magnussen hopes this year’s changes will lead to a more permissive approach to race management.
-
Rich Energy boss answers ‘risible and nonsense rumors’
“We have a bit more fuel, which is a nice thing,” said the Dane, speaking at the launch on Thursday of Haas’ 2019 contender.
“The most frustrating thing is having to save too much fuel. A little bit of saving is fine, there’s always been a bit of fuel saving in Formula 1.
“But for me fuel saving in the way that we did a couple of times last year is a joke.
“The tyre thing is another thing. Sometimes, like [in] Mexico, [it] just didn’t work for us, we were going eight seconds slower than what we could do with a new tyre in the race, and that’s always very frustrating.
“I just hope that we won’t get these extremes in areas where [it’s as if] you’re not racing anymore.
“It’s okay to have to manage, that’s expected in Formula 1, but having to manage in those extreme and ridiculous ways that we had to do a few times, whether that be fuel or tyres, that’s a bit stupid and I hope that situation is altered.”
Rich Energy CEO Williams Storey, whose company is partnering with Haas this year, offered an energized outlook for 2019, claiming the US outfit will take the fight to rival Red Bull.
Magnussen played down that prospect however, and vowed to wait until he puts his new car through its paces before assessing his ambitions for this year.
“That depends on what kind of car I get,” said the 26-year-old.
“Then when you see what kind of car you have you start to build some kind of goal for the season.
“That’s the frustrating thing about Formula 1: you can never just go into the season and say ‘I want to be the best this year’. I can say that but I can never prove it.
Click Here: All Blacks Rugby Jersey
“I want to be the best and I feel like I can do that, but proving it is difficult in Formula 1 if you don’t have the best car.”
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter