Haas F1 Team driver Kevin Magnussen capped off what was a difficult weekend all-round for the Dane, by retiring from the 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix with an electronics failure on just lap eight of the race, having been buoyed ahead of proceedings following his first points score for the team last time out in China.
The American squad are still investigating the exact cause of the problem, but Magnussen is convinced it would have been another strong race for him, had he been able to complete it.
“The car stopped for some reason, I don’t know what the cause is yet, but I lost power. I had to stop, unfortunately. It happened suddenly – just the power disappeared.
“Conditions until then were pretty good. The tyre wear was a bit lower and it was easier on brakes. It would have been a good race.”
Despite that setback however, the Dane is in a positive mood ahead of the next round in Russia, the place where the 24-year-old achieved a strong seventh place and his best result for the Renault Sport Formula 1 Team last year, having already gelled with the VF17, a car he now feels comfortable with.
Magnussen is confident that more points finishes are on the horizon this season, and that the future looks bright with Haas.
“I just look forward now and am happy with the car. It’s running in the points and qualifying in Q3. We’ve had three straight weekends where the car’s been in points positions. I’m looking forward to this continuing.”