During the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen found himself in an embarrassing situation. His tactics during the Miami Grand Prix sprint duel with Lewis Hamilton resulted in four separate time penalties. As a result, Magnussen is now under investigation for alleged unsportsmanlike behavior. It is clear that Magnussen and his Haas team should feel uneasy about their actions, but the true embarrassment lies with the championship and its officiating.
Magnussen knew he would have a difficult time keeping Hamilton’s Mercedes behind him. However, if he and Haas had been aware that Hamilton would receive a severe penalty for pitlane speeding, they may have approached the race differently. Unfortunately, Magnussen’s decision to skip across the chicane in an attempt to maintain the gap ultimately ended his chances of scoring points. Instead, the race became about securing points for Nico Hulkenberg, leaving Magnussen vulnerable to Hamilton’s attacks.
Magnussen expressed frustration, believing that Hulkenberg had gained an advantage by straightlining the chicane earlier in the race. He felt that Hulkenberg should have given back the time to give Magnussen the DRS advantage, which would have secured a higher position for both drivers. Despite disliking the tactics he had to employ, Magnussen fulfilled his role as a team player, ensuring Hulkenberg’s points were protected from Hamilton and Tsunoda.
Hamilton, although impressed by Magnussen’s explanation, was not angered by the situation. Fighting for only one point in a hopeless season made it easier for him to accept the events of their duel. However, Hamilton continuously pointed out Magnussen’s rule-breaking actions during the race, resulting in ineffective penalties. The penalties did not place Magnussen behind Hamilton until a divebomb maneuver pushed Hamilton behind Tsunoda. At that point, Magnussen allowed the two drivers behind him to pass.
Unfortunately, by the time Magnussen let the drivers pass, Hulkenberg had already secured a significant lead. This meant that most of the penalties Haas received during the race had a negative impact on their overall performance. Scoring points in Formula 1 is a challenge, especially for teams outside the top five. Haas, with only seven points this season, must maximize every scoring opportunity.
Blaming Haas or Magnussen for their actions would be unfair. The FIA stewards also cannot be held responsible since their role is to assess infringements and assign appropriate penalties. However, the stewards’ inability to force Magnussen to cede position opened the door for a race like this to occur. It may be necessary for the stewards to heavily sanction Magnussen under the International Sporting Code’s Article 12.2.1.I, which prohibits any attempt to influence the competition’s result in a way that goes against sporting ethics.
Ultimately, a post-race intervention cannot undo the consequences of an in-race intervention. Formula 1 allowed a sprint race where one car was incentivized to race another illegally. This highlights the need for better regulations and penalties to ensure fair competition in the future.