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Kevin Magnussen believes that current teammate Romain Grosjean is faster over one lap than Jenson Button. Magnussen was paired with Button for a single season at McLaren in 2014, before Fernando Alonso came in to take the Dane's seat in 2015.
Magnussen joined Haas in 2017, while Grosjean has been there since its maiden season in 2016. In their two years as teammates, Grosjean has come out on top 23-15. In the early stages of 2018, the Frenchman struggled in the races, while Magnussen picked up the points for the American team.
Grosjean only scored his first points of the year at round nine in Austria, but was able to consistently finish inside the top ten after that, something that Magnussen hails.
"Romain came back after a difficult period and it might have seemed like I took a step backwards," Magnussen said to BT newspaper. "But that was not the case. He had just returned to his highest level. It is clear that with the update, Romain got a car that suited him very well. Overall it was better, but unlike Romain I could drive the old one too.
"We are still a young team on a steep learning curve," Magnussen continued. "Perhaps we had a better car than we really expected. We were fighting in a higher weight class than the one we belonged to. But it's a luxury problem that shows how much talent and potential the team has. In fact I have a hard time understanding that it made such a big difference to Romain."
And he argued that Grosjean has been his fastest teammate since joining F1: "If you look at the whole package - human, chemistry, laptimes and so on - Jenson is the best teammate I've had. But there is no doubt that Romain is faster than Jenson. On one lap, Romain is exceptionally fast when it all goes well for him."
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (11)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Its hard to tell, but I think I disagree (though Im biased, so probably not an objective stance). The key bit in the statement is "when it all goes well for him", and mostly it doesnt. And even when it does, we mostly only get to see glimpses of his best. He is just good most of the time. Button had a much higher good to great ratio and is much more consistent all around together with not being very incident prone, and even if he wouldnt have had it, the fact that he didnt blame other drivers or factors woulda made it easier to stomach than with Romain "He Hit Me" Grosjean.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I think Magnussen may be right, but that it's a silly point to be made. Because drivers maybe have an outstanding lap 3 or 4 times a year. Sure Grosjean is fast over one lap. But so was Pastor Maldonado and Kazuki Nakajima. Yes, Romain at his best can compete for podiums regularly as he demonstrated before. But he's also demonstrated that he is very rarely at his best. So again, moot point Kevin.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
As you say, its a silly point, and I cant really recall any moment I thought "wow, this guy is fast" about Grosjean. I've had such moments with Hulk, with Perez, and now Leclerc and Gasly, but Grosjean has never impressed me. Grosjean is maybe a good quali driver, but for the rest, I just dont see it.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
...and far too inconsistent. I strongly think, Grosjean wouldn't have won a drivers championship with Brawn's car in 2009.
Lotus4Ever
Posts: 26
If and if ..... comparing apples and pears - if Ronnie Peterson had lived he had won the 1978 F1 championship over Mario Andretti.....etc etc
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Well, "if's" are one of the many spices of life. Imagination is a wonderful thing, albeit a bit dangerous if not used in moderation. :)
blade
Posts: 341
Can't argue with the fact he is an F1 driver who has seen the lap times of both drivers in comparison to his own - his comment can't really be criticised in this sense. He is talking about one off laps, not complete package, so I think his comments are fine. Strange to see him bigging up his teammate though......
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Not necessarily. Plenty of drivers do it as a kinda humblebrag, like "yeah, look what I beat, that dude's top notch". Dont necessarily think thats what KMag is doing, mind, just saying its common.
Kean
Posts: 692
Button was world champ, and he beat Hamilton in the same car one season. Highly doubt Grosjean could have managed that. Grosjean may be fast over one lap when the car is perfect for him, but as soon as the car is a little bit difficult for him his performance droppes significantly, more so than many other drivers.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Button was an world champion that beat Massa in the same car. Would Grosjean be missed if he leaves F1 now? He fails to adjust his driving style when required, can't get on top his brakes for more than one season. Blames everyone else for his misfortune and parked his car on the racing line when he missed his braking point up. I would actually prefer if he leaves F1.
cricho
Posts: 80
These two pilots are clearly in two very different leagues.
One of them is a F1 world champion!
You do the math.....