Kevin Magnussen – Australian GP track changes potentially “over the top”

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Thursday 7 April 2022 17:15

Kevin Magnussen has revealed he thought changes to the venue for the Australian Grand Prix were “over the top” upon first viewing.

Albert Park sports a new look for F1’s return to Melbourne after missing two years in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a complete revamp of the middle sector.

The track has been widened at numerous points around the lap but the biggest change has seen a new high-speed section added in sector two with the removal of the old turn nine and 10 chicane.

Giving his thoughts on the alterations, Haas driver Magnussen explained: “When I saw the layout on this track, [I thought] maybe some of it was over the top.

“Removing, at least, turn nine and 10, I don’t think they needed to do that. But they have made a big effort to make the show better and I think that is a great thing for tracks to try and do their best to improve racing, it’s a great thing.

“Let’s see how it goes in the race. There are different opinions on what is good racing. Too easily overtaking can be bad as well, it puts everyone in their right position in terms of pace and… it is kind of like a balance.

“Some tracks have just the right balance to still have some racing, still have some action, but also some opportunity to defend.”

Explaining how racing can be taken too far, Magnussen added: “If you can’t defend, if you just get overtaken, if you are even a little bit slower then that is not a good thing. It is about balance I think so let’s see what happens at this track in the race.”

Magnussen – New DRS zone will be “pretty full-on”

The new high-speed section incorporates one of four DRS zones on the Albert Park layout, with drivers opening their rear wings around a flat-out left-hander.

With turn nine now the almost left-right chicane at the end of the section, Magnussen was asked if the changes will promote better racing action than previous years.

“I think it will be a little better,” Magnussen replied.

“Into turn nine, I don’t think you are going to be able to overtake.

“You may do, but I am not sure. I think that corner, with DRS, the bend before turn nine is going to be pretty full-on I think with DRS on.

“I think the cars are going to be quite loose there, but we will see. I think it will be a little better and also with the cars, in Jeddah, we saw more overtakes than we did last year in the race so the cars are definitely better at following and I think overtaking, even if they didn’t change the track, you’d see more overtaking.”

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