Kevin Magnussen, a member of the Haas F1 Team, is dangerously close to being banned from Formula 1 races. Throughout the Miami Grand Prix weekend, he accumulated a total of five penalty points for various infractions.
During the Sprint on Saturday, Magnussen resorted to defensive tactics reminiscent of his performance in Jeddah. While playing a strategic game with his Haas teammates, he also managed to frustrate Lewis Hamilton, who was in hot pursuit.
In his attempt to fend off Hamilton, Magnussen received three penalty points and a time penalty of 35 seconds for gaining an unfair advantage off the track and other rule violations.
Acknowledging the deserved nature of his penalties, the Haas driver admitted that he had to resort to “stupid tactics” that he personally dislikes.
Although the stewards cleared Magnussen of unsporting conduct on Saturday, not everyone shared this perspective. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella strongly criticized Magnussen’s driving, deeming it “completely unacceptable.” Stella not only called for a review of the points system but also suggested that “unsporting” drivers should be excluded from participating in races.
Stella’s wish may soon come true, as the stewards reached a verdict following a clash between Magnussen and Logan Sargeant during the Miami GP. According to the Driving Standards Guidelines, for car No. 20 to attempt an overtake on the outside, its front axle must be at least level with the other car’s front axle at the apex of Turn 2.
It was evident that car No. 20 did not meet this requirement, thus not entitling it to room in that corner. Even if viewed as an inside overtake at Turn 3, car No. 20 still did not have the right to claim the corner based on the standards for such maneuvers.
Even if this sequence of corners is considered a chicane, the decision remains unchanged. According to the guidelines, priority is given to the first corner, and if a driver does not have the right to be given room, they will not benefit in subsequent corners.
Consequently, Magnussen received a 10-second time penalty and an additional two penalty points, bringing his total to 10 on his FIA Super License. These points were accumulated due to clashes with Yuki Tsunoda during the Saudi and China rounds.
If a driver accumulates 12 penalty points within a 12-month period, they are required to skip the next round of competition according to the sporting regulations. However, the points are not expunged until 12 months after the first incident. This means that Magnussen must avoid any further infractions until 9 March 2025, as any additional discretion will likely result in the two points needed for a race ban.
Haas Reserves Ollie Bearman and Pietro Fittipaldi will need to be prepared to step in for Magnussen in the team’s driving lineup during his absence. Following the race, Magnussen, clearly frustrated, declined to provide any comments regarding his latest penalty and its consequences. When asked for his opinion, the Danish driver simply replied, “I better not.” When it was pointed out that he seemed unhappy, he curtly responded with a simple, “No.” Refusing to comment further, he acknowledged that the penalty may have been incorrect by saying, “Better not comment.” Similarly, when questioned about Stella’s remarks, he agreed, stating, “You’re right.” Magnussen also expressed a desire for more clarity regarding the penalty system, but another infraction will result in him having a weekend off to reflect on it. Given that Haas has previously utilized him as a deliberate obstruction to secure points for Nico Hulkenberg, it wouldn’t be surprising if they employ the same strategy again. It’s a case of three strikes and you’re out.