Kevin Magnussen Q&A: Qatar Grand Prix

Round 18 of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Championship brings the paddock back to Qatar, after a year hiatus. You haven’t raced around Lusail International Circuit previously, what do you know of the circuit and as a driver of over 150 races, how do you tackle getting familiar with a new circuit?  

“It’s a new circuit to me, I’ve never driven it, but I like getting to know new tracks and there’s so much data and information available nowadays you can prepare quite well so I feel like I already know the track but still. It’s still going to be a new experience, what requirements from the track and how the curbs feel are things that I need to explore when I get there. I get one practice before qualifying, but it is what it is and I just have to get on the pace as quickly as possible.”  

Lusail is a track that also hosts two-wheeled sporting events, like Barcelona, Silverstone, Spielberg and COTA. What characteristics do these tracks have and do they offer Formula 1 more or fewer opportunities during a racing lap?

“Due to the aerodynamics on the car, we tend to struggle with following other cars in those types of corners that this track has plenty of, the medium-, high-speed corners, but I think the main straight is long enough with DRS that overtaking is possible there and also it’s a very wide track so you can make alternative lines to make your clear air, so from what I’ve seen from 2021, it looked like overtaking was possible.”

 

The Qatar Grand Prix starts a run of Sprints, with three of the next four races using the format. Is that something you’re in favor of? 

“I enjoy Sprint weekends because there’s more pressure. Most of the weekend, even with FP1 there’s pressure because it’s the only one you get. From the beginning of the weekend, it’s more exciting.”