Haas resorted to using “cups” to support Kevin Magnussen’s neck at the Jeddah circuit after the Dane felt the affects of not being in an F1 car for 14 months.
Magnussen’s Formula 1 return has been a successful one, scoring the driver points in both of this season’s opening grands prix.
But it has also been a painful one.
Magnussen physically felt his time away as he put in the laps around the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit for round two, the driver’s neck muscles taking strain.
So much so Haas used cups to try to support his neck during the race.
“The neck is nowhere,” GPFans quotes him as having said after finishing P9 in the grand prix. “I hope it will come back soon.
“We put these cups on the side so I could lean.
“It is what it is, I’ve got to get stronger but we scored two points, so [I’m] very happy.”
P9 for K-MAG
Another superb drive from Kevin as he adds two more points 
#HaasF1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/7pRPlXN04f
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 27, 2022
Explaining the neck problems which first plagued him during qualifying for the Saudi Arabian GP, he said: “You rest your head on the headrest, but you lose so much feeling for the car, and also visually you’re looking in the wrong direction, so it’s not great.
“And that’s what I was forced to do because my neck just wouldn’t hold it.”
In fact the problem was so bad that Magnussen was grateful that car troubles limited his running during the practice sessions.
“I’m glad I didn’t have that [practice] Preparation because my neck would be done already before qualifying,” Magnussen said.
“My neck just broke in Q3, I just couldn’t drive it anymore, so it’s tough for that.
“When you’ve been out of an F1 car for a year and a track like this – a great track, it’s nothing towards the track – but I’m just not prepared for it.
“I’m glad I’ve got perhaps one of the best physios in the world here with me, Thomas [Jorgensen]and he’ll be able to do his magic hopefully.”
Magnussen will be hoping his neck is better before the next race, the Australian Grand Prix.
The driver is hoping for a third successive race inside the top ten.
“We’ve got a pretty good all-round car this year,” he said.
“We’re still learning about it but I have a feeling we’re stronger in low-speed and medium-speed than high-speed.
“Not that we’re bad at high-speed but I feel our strengths are towards low and medium, so that should be ok for Albert Park.”
PlanetF1 verdict
Did you miss our previous article...
https://formulaone.news/haas/like-father-like-son-not-necessarily-with-mick-schumacher-but-thats-ok
