Kevin Magnussen's predicament at Haas bears similarities to Daniel Ricciardo

Kevin Magnussen's precarious predicament at Haas bears similarities to Daniel Ricciardo's struggles at McLaren. The idea was that Nico Hulkenberg and Magnussen would have a tight relationship in 2023, even though qualifying would almost certainly go to Hulkenberg's advantage due to his propensity for one-lap heroics.

However, that comparison was startlingly biased. Hulkenberg dominated Magnussen on Saturdays, outscoring him 14-6 in similar sessions with an average disadvantage of 0.284 seconds. Magnussen's average grid position was 15.1, while Hulkenberg's was 12.3. Although their respective merits as drivers are debatable, Magnussen's performance in 2023 was not much lower than Hulkenberg's. It all boils down to basic variations in driving technique. Haas's rear went around a lot, something Hulkenberg is usually stronger at handling. Magnussen, on the other hand, likes the vehicle to have some understeer because it provides him the stability he needs to brake aggressively and late into corners.