Formula 1

Kevin Magnussen: “I just didn’t get a free lap there in Q2”

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Kevin Magnussen was compromised heavily by traffic during qualifying in Monaco - Credit: Octane Photographic Ltd

Kevin Magnussen was frustrated to endure a traffic-filled qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix, with the Dane unable to get a completely clear lap in during Q2.

The Haas F1 Team racer was only thirteenth fastest in qualifying, and found himself blocked by Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages, although he was also compromised by Stoffel Vandoorne’s crash at the exit of the swimming pool complex.

Magnussen admitted his frustration that traffic played such a major part in qualifying, but acknowledges it is in the nature of the Monaco track, with it being so short, tight and twisty.

“I just didn’t get a free lap there in Q2,” said Magnussen. “I had traffic on my out lap, first lap, second lap then my fourth lap. So I didn’t really get any laps, and that’s not the way to move forward, but traffic’s the thing around here – very typical Monaco.

“To have just one lap in Q1 and Q2 free from traffic is very unlucky. It’s annoying and frustrating as I was very happy with the car. We had the pace to do well. We could’ve been in Q3.

“Again, looking at other people who had misfortune as well, it could’ve been a good result, but that’s how it is. Hopefully, we can make it up in the race.”

Speaking to the media, Magnussen felt that Hamilton’s antics during the session were unnecessary, and that his blocking prevented him from setting a lap that could have seen him follow team-mate Romain Grosjean into the top ten shootout.

“Lewis was the worst one but he was not the only one…on the last corner he made a mistake, and then wanted to cool down his tyres and he had quite a big space in front of him so he didn’t need to back off,” said Magnussen.

“I was on a lap that would have been just about Q3, and I had to back off. But again, he wasn’t the only one.”

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