Kevin Magnussen feels “lucky and privileged” to have raced in Formula 1 but isn’t sad about what he expects to be his final Grand Prix.
The Dane arrived on the grid to great acclaim in 2014, following the same path as Lewis Hamilton in stepping straight in at McLaren and even finished on the podium in his first race in Australia.
However, that remains to this day his best finish in F1 and, after a single year stint at Renault in 2016 followed by four seasons at Haas, K-Mag accepts his dream likely comes to an end after this weekend.
“I’m pretty at peace with it,” he said on Thursday. “I know in motorsport you never say never, I know lots of things can happen and you should never say never, but I’m ready to call this my last race.
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“I’m going to go out and enjoy it, drive this amazing car that is so satisfying to drive, and think back on this amazing opportunity that I’ve been given.
“It’s like growing up as a kid and dreaming about Formula 1 and wanting to be in Formula 1 and then getting that and making a career out of it – it’s something that I feel really lucky and privileged to have been able to have done.”
Magnussen’s next step is already sorted, however, as he will join Chip Ganassi Racing in IMSA, making his debut in just a few weeks time.
“I think because now I’ve had a few years in Formula 1, I’m really looking forward to what’s going to happen next; it’s super exciting and something that I’m truly looking forward to,” he said of following his father Jan into sportscars.
“The last few years have been difficult in Formula 1; it’s not been super exciting for me racing at the back. There’s been really good points but what I’m looking back at is 2018 when we were doing really well.
“I’m just looking forward to what’s going to happen now, looking forward to going back in a car that I know is going to be able to win in a team that can give me a chance of fighting for championships.
“My first race is going to be Daytona [24 Hours], which I’m really super excited about. In a month’s time, I will be driving the car at Daytona. That’s how I feel at the moment – not really sad about things; just really excited,” he added.