Kevin Magnussen’s tempo has been reworked not too long ago, with Mexico seeing him produce his finest qualifying and Components 1 race results of the season.
Critically, that exhibiting was not the results of some freak circumstance, because it got here from some fairly spectacular tempo that even meant he was quicker than Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen within the closing levels of the race.
It’s a far cry from the beginning of the season when Magnussen was struggling to get assured in Haas’s 2024 challenger, and earned consideration extra for his rear gunner ways than his onerous outcomes out on monitor.
The breakthrough that he seems to have made since Austin, which may show crucial in Haas’s constructors’ championship battle with RB, has come similtaneously the workforce launched a serious new improve – however it isn’t these aero components which have made the distinction.
As an alternative, key to Magnussen lastly unleashing the tempo that he knew he had inside him is elevated confidence on nook entry, and particularly relating to brake really feel.
“This yr it has been very inconsistent on the brakes and I really feel like we hopefully mounted that,” stated Magnussen, when requested by Motorsport.com to elucidate the place his step ahead had come from.
“It definitely appeared that manner within the final two races that there was a change that was made which I actually felt. That was very optimistic.
“Hopefully it isn’t temperature-related and hopefully it’s actual, but it surely definitely coincided with making that change.”
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photos
Digging a bit deeper into the specifics of the place issues are higher, Magnussen defined that it was all associated to that preliminary braking section.
“This season, after I hit the brakes, they kind of have a little bit of lag after which they chew a short while after hitting the brakes,” he stated.
“So it is that preliminary feeling that I hit the brakes very onerous. My peak brake stress is all the time manner larger than Nico [Hulkenberg], and so I believe I simply must really feel the brakes swap on instantly, and that is been actually hurting my confidence on entries.
“It upsets you in a nasty manner whenever you already really feel uncomfortable with the brakes. In order that’s been a giant assist.
“To know that they chew on the identical manner each time you hit the brakes, that is a giant factor for me.”
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Haas is at the moment 10 factors forward of RB within the battle for sixth within the constructors’ championship, having had a run of 5 top-10 finishes.
And though it appears to have an honest tempo benefit over its Faenza-based rival, Magnussen says it can not take something with no consideration simply but.
“We’re blissful that we’re 10 factors forward, however I do not suppose you’ll be able to ever be too assured right here,” he stated.
“It might swing round in a short time. They only want one good race and so they’re equal with us once more. So we simply want to remain on the ball.”
