Magnussen and Haas in shock after sweetly stunning pole

Kevin Magnussen was not supposed to be on the Formula 1 grid in 2022, but today he shocked the world by scoring a stunning maiden pole position for both himself and the once struggling Haas F1 Team.

Magnussen started the year without an F1 seat, but received a last minute call to replace Nikita Mazepin and he has repaid the faith from the American team.

The Dane will start on the front row for the first time in his F1 career in tomorrow morning’s F1 Sprint following his 1:11.674s lap, which topped a crazy Qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The great lap sparked similar scenes to Nico Hulkenburg achieving the same feat in a Williams on this track in 2010 and Giancarlo Fisichella’s unexpected pole in a Force India at Belgium in 2009.

Kevin Magnussen on his way to a stunning pole at São Paulo. Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

In a shootout on soft tyres, Magnussen completed a lap in early in Q3 before George Russell’s off and the subsequent rain meant no more runs were possible after the opening dash.

The Haas driver nailed his lap, going two tenths clear of double world champion Max Verstappen to make history.

Speaking in parc ferme after the unforgettable achievement, Magnussen was as stunned as everyone else.

“I do not know what to say,” he said.

“The team put me out on the track at exactly the right moment, we were first out of the pit lane to get the best piece of track and did a pretty decent lap.

“Thank you to Gene Haas and Gunter and the whole team for this opportunity. I got back this year after a year out and it has just been an amazing journey.

“Not even close (did I expect it). We are on pole, it is incredible.”

Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team, and the Haas F1 team celebrate after securing pole during the São Paulo GP. Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

Magnussen has been a veteran of 139 Grands Prix and until now he was never able to better the grid position he achieved on debut in 2014 when he put his McLaren onto P4 and converted it to a second place on Sunday.

He had equalled his personal best later that year in Germany, but has only qualified in the top five nine times in his entire career.

Kevin Magnussen celebrates on a podium on F1 debut at Albert Park in 2014 for McLaren. Photo by: Motorsport Images

Despite Friday qualifying being a tense, nail-biting wet-dry session, Magnussen was able to consistently punch out strong laps to avoid each elimination zone with ease while his teammate Mick Schumacher failed to reach Q2 and will start at the back.

The Dane said the key was his team making sure he was the first to set a flying lap in Q3.

“The car was strong and we were in contention, but it was always a bit drizzly and not fully dry,” Magnussen said to Sky Sports F1 in the paddock.

“The big difference was getting out first and giving me the best piece of track.”

Having started on a high at McLaren with a podium finish on debut, Magnussen has suffered a tubrelant career at the top level.

He was squeezed out of the famous Woking based team to make way for Fernando Alonso in 2015, went to Renault for the following season, but that stint also only lasted one year.

The Dane finally found a happy home at Haas and stayed there until 2020 when the American squad wanted some fresh and youthful blood and replaced both the Dane and teammate Romain Grosjean with debutants.

Kevin Magnussen’s up and down Haas journey started in 2017 at Australia. Photo by: Zak Mauger/LAT Images

Magnussen thought his career at the top level was over, only for Haas to re-invite him back into the fold this year.

He said this pole is easily the best moment in his dramatic career.

“In this sport you up and down or at least I do. Days like this are a lot of fun,” Magnussen said.

“This is more surprising (than Australian GP in 2014) and it feels better, I came in as this arrogant little kid thinking I was the king of the world, but I had a lot of lessons after that.

“Now I am on pole position and I am just going to enjoy it.”

As for the prospect of starting for the first time on the front row in an F1 car, Magnussen will not hold back.

“Maximum attack, lets go for something funny,” he said.

“I just have to enjoy this until tomorrow and then seeing my white little Haas there on pole position.”

Not only is it a momentous moment in the career of Magnussen, it is also the biggest highlight for the often-battling Haas F1 Team.

The American squad is the newest to join the F1 paddock in 2016 and has had an up and down time.

As recently as last year it was the perennial backmarker, being up to three seconds slower than the leaders in qualifying sessions.

But now Haas has risen from last to first and one man, who has been with the team throughout its entire existence is team principal Gunther Steiner, who was overjoyed, but quick to say the pole was not down to luck.

“I think it is the number one (moment) it is something you are scared to dream about,” he said to Sky Sports F1.

“The whole team has been trying hard for seven years and then circumstances let us pull this off.

“It was not luck, it was well deserved from the driver and team, being on the right tyres at the right time and Kevin putting in a perfect lap when it was needed.

“Everybody went out quick on the slicks and the other cars were only 10-20 seconds behind us to and could not do what he did, so credit to him, he was given the opportunity and took it.”

Pole man Kevin Magnussen is embraced by an overjoyed Haas F1 Team principal Guenther Steiner. Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

Haas became the first US-based constructor to score an F1 pole position since Shadow at the 1975 British Grand Prix and it was the perfect birthday present for Haas owner Gene Haas, while points, rather than trophies, are the focus for the remainder of the weekend.

On the day he will turn 70 his car will be on the front row of an F1 grid and Steiner said today’s stunning achievement would not have happened without the support of the team owner.

“Its a nice birthday present for Gene. He and the whole team deserves it a lot, we never give up and keep on fighting,” he said on Gene.

“It is down to Gene who kept in believing in us and it gives the confidence.

“Hopefully we can build on this, we cannot get too excited because we are focusing on the race to get points because we need to get eighth position in the championship.

“We do not need to win the race, I am happy with points.”

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