Dane was looking at other options before being handed F1 return; Says McLaren experience - when he was sacked via email on his birthday - made him stronger
Tuesday 31 May 2016 11:46, UK
Kevin Magnussen admits his axing by McLaren was extremely tough to take but is so grateful to be in a "better place" in Formula 1 with Renault.
The Dane was the fall guy when it came to Fernando Alonso's return to McLaren in 2014, and was then replaced by Stoffel Vandoorne as reserve driver last year.
Magnussen, who secured his new team's first points of the 2016 season in Russia and won the Driver of the Day award in the process, had other options but was picked to lead Renault's renewed charge in the sport.
"Getting back to Formula 1 was my absolute goal," he said. "Now I'm here with a team whose ambitions are to win a world championship. I couldn't be in a better place.
"I had doubts, obviously, and I looked elsewhere - DTM, LMP1 - to make sure I had something to do if I couldn't get back to Formula 1. Renault gave me the opportunity and I'm so grateful for that."
Magnussen secured 55 points in his rookie season with McLaren, less than half that of team-mate Jenson Button.
After dropping him for Alonso, the Woking team decided not to renew Magnussen's contract with Vandoorne already on their books, and notified him via email on his birthday.
"The whole experience made me stronger," Magnussen explains. "It was tough losing the seat and nearly losing hope. Well, not losing hope but I'm not stupid, I knew that this was going to be difficult.
"I was very fortunate to get back in. This time around I would say I appreciate everything a lot more. every minute on the track I appreciate it so much more because I nearly lost it.
"I don't think it's less pressure, I just deal with it better this time. Because I enjoy it a lot more it's difficult to see the negative.
"We were told mid-season that Fernando was going to sign the contract and we knew that one of us was going to go. That makes it tough, especially when you're up against a world champion with 15 years of experience and you're completely new.
"The speed was there and it showed I'm a fast driver up against Jenson. That gave me a lot of confidence. I'm in a better place now, both mentally and in the team itself."
2016 will be a transition year for Renault and for now, getting both Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer through to Q2 represents an achievement. Engine upgrades are on the way, however, while 2017's regulation changes could also bring the two-time constructors' champions back into contention.
"It's something we need to take advantage of," Magnussen added. "It's a small opportunity that we need to capitalise on and I'm sure we're going to do the maximum to do that."
