Magnussen: Consistency will determine F1's midfield battle for fourth

Kevin Magnussen believes the Formula 1 team that is the most consistent throughout 2018 will prevail in the tight battle over fourth place in the constructors’ championship. 

Haas enjoyed a significant step in performance heading into the season and currently occupies fifth place in the constructors’ standings following its best result of the year in the Austrian Grand Prix, moving the American squad to within 13 points of Renault. 

Despite enjoying one of the strongest packages on the grid, Haas has missed a number of opportunities to score big points prior to its first double points finish of 2018 at the Red Bull Ring, though Magnussen is convinced his team has a car capable of securing fourth spot. 

“I think we’ve certainly got the car to compete for fourth, at least at many of the races but the thing that will decide this championship is consistency,” Magnussen explained. 

“With us still learning a lot, gaining a lot of experience, still being on the steep end of the learning curve, that will be the challenge. I am not saying we can’t do it, we’ve got the car and the talent in the team to do it but we just need to string it together.

“We are more consistent this year,” he added. “Last year we were best of the rest at a few races and then other times we were fighting with Saubers who were even worse last year. You don’t see the Saubers going straight away going to the fourth best car so we had that kind of that potential in the car but we couldn’t extract it very often.

“This year we seem to be able to extract it a bit more often and so far this year we’ve been able to do it nearly every time. We’ve had two races that were kinda off and the rest of the time we have been very competitive.”

Haas team principal Günther Steiner said: “We have to [target fourth]. Why would we sit here say we just want to come fifth? You always try to go for what is possible and this is done with respect and this isn’t arrogance. 

“You need to try to go for fourth because they are 13 points in front of us. It can be done but also there’s a chance it cannot be done but for sure the aim is to go for it.”

But Magnussen says he is expecting the midfield pecking order to close up at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, after Haas were comfortably the fourth-fastest team on its way to fourth and fifth place in Spielberg.

“Probably more [so] than in Austria,” he explained. “In Austria we were like at least a good half a second clear of the next midfield rival so it probably will close up a bit. Its a different track and I think we are not as strong here compared to the rest of the midfield. 

“I think Austria was kind of the perfect track for us. Last year Renault were very strong here and we weren’t as strong. Let’s see. I think we can still fight with them but we are probably going to be more of a group now.”