MIAMI — Kevin Magnussen was holidaying in Miami earlier this year when he received a call from his old boss, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, asking him to return for the 2022 season.
The Danish driver, who lost his seat at the end of 2020 and “made peace” with his Formula 1 career coming to a close, didn’t hesitate in accepting Steiner’s offer.
“He explained how much work and effort had gone into this car … that was enough to make me sign on the dotted line,” Magnussen told The Post on Friday ahead of the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.
The American-owned team sacrificed their 2021 campaign to focus on this year’s package, and many would argue it’s paying off.
Magnussen, 29, qualified fourth at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last month, securing the team’s spot on the second row of the grid for the first time in its history.
“I thought my Formula 1 career was over and I wouldn’t be coming back,” Magnussen said. “I accepted that and made peace with it. My wife and I had a daughter, it was perfect.
“[But] I missed competing at this level. So when I got the chance to come back, I took the opportunity immediately.”
As for the possibility of a podium (a top-three finish) in 2022, he said “anything is possible.”
“Do I think it’s likely? I don’t know. I’m certainly dreaming about a podium,” Magnussen, whose highest finish was a fifth at the Bahrain Grand Prix, said. “If we hit that perfect weekend where the safety car comes out or there’s a red flag at the right time, it could put us in the right position.”
A couple of things are different for Magnussen during his second F1 stint: His teammate is Mick Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, and he’s a father to baby daughter Laura, whom he shares with wife Louise.
“It was very emotional entering the paddock [for the first race] in Bahrain with my wife and Laura. Formula 1 had been such a big part of my life, then it ended, and I had Laura,” Magnussen said, noting he didn’t think he would ever get the chance to “combine” the two loves of his life.
Mick, 23, is also feeling optimistic about the team’s performance.
“We’re not far off [a podium],” he said. “We’ve had some crazy races, and with the cars being so close this year there’s always a chance … so I won’t take it off the table just yet.
“Unfortunately last year we weren’t very confident, so to be here with a car that we know works well at different places and different tracks … I think we can say that we’re quite confident [in the team’s performance].”