Kevin Magnussen and the Haas team had a tough and rain-battered qualifying session for today’s sprint race at Interlagos.
He clung to pole position on slippery tires after a spectacularly executed opening lap in Q3 as rain began to fall on the track. As the rain worsened, the team realized they had a chance of pole position as others failed to improve their lap times.
When George Russell spun and red flagged, the team feared a delay could dry out the track and jeopardize their position. But when the session restarted the conditions remained too poor for the soft tyres, and Magnussen took a stunning victory.
Magnusson’s Brazilian GP qualifying transcript
Q1
Qualifying started on a wet track so the drivers opted for medium tyres. Magnussen quickly found he was tiring, but the track didn’t dry out fast enough for mediation, so he opted for a second set for the next run.
Slade wait for the green light. Wait for the green light. All the cars behind so far are on Inters, 40 seconds.Slade25 seconds.Slade over 10 seconds, Kev.Slade five seconds. Slade green light track inter.SladeMode is push, good to go SOC three when possible.Magnusen Tires are dead.Slade Kopi, tires are dead.Magnussen dries fast.So we box or dry,Kev? Check out Hamilton two and a half seconds later, a timed lap. Magnussen isn’t dry yet. I do not know. If we’re just going to keep an eye on Slade, we’re going to box for Inter. Magnussen OK. Box, box. Sladehamilton a second and a half later. I think Magnussen isn’t dry yet. Copy Slade. How is the balance? Shall we add a front wing or are you happy.MagnussenEr, please add a front wing.Slade copy that.
Setting a 1’19.789 in his first run, Magnussen was unable to improve on his subsequent efforts. Meanwhile, other drivers decided to risk crashes and found the track ready for them.
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SladeK2 Please Kev K2. Watch out for Gasly as you exit the pit. Okay, it’s over now. Do you want a Magnussen SOC two? Slade Let’s go SOC two. SOC three, SOC three please Kev.MagnussenCopy, SOC three.Slade Next car Leclerc, seven seconds later. Slade Why Tsunoda be careful, I’m sorry, Tsunoda, I don’t know where it came from. He’s two seconds behind, I think he’s back. SladeOkay the next car is Leclerc three seconds behind, look at Leclerc, two and a half seconds. SladeEB7 Please let Leclerc pass, make a gap, that’s it, good job, EB7. Wait three seconds later from Bottas. push mode.slad(ends lap) two shape please kev, make two shape now we have cars on dry tires. Gasly is on dry tires. Magnussen do you want to box now? SladeNo, don’t box now, it’s not good for now. Just try for another round. That lap was cancelled. Follow the limit on lap eight.SladeSOC one please Kev.Slade Is the track safe for dry tyres? Looks like Magnus, yes.SladeCopy.SladeShape three please Kev, shape three in mode please.SladeCar behind Vettel you’ve just passed, gasli. Three seconds later, a timed round. After two seconds on fuel, we hit dry tires. Gaslin, be careful, okay, you’re clear behind you now. We are boxers for dry tires. How does Magnussen like Gasly? Slade Yes, he is fast. So it looks like the right tire.SladeOkay Kev we [hold you] In the box, to get the time right. So confirming.MagnussenBox, box. I need more than one round, don’t I? More than one.SladeTwo round. We do laps held twice.MagnussenCopy.SladeStops behind Schumacher in pitstairs one please Kev, tire one. Kev can we do K2 for climbing and two for SOC please.Magnussen remember the red flags and more.
Haas caught Magnussen in the pits behind teammate Mick Schumacher with enough time to complete two laps before sending them both down for the final lap.
Schumacher’s first run was a steady 1’20.082, which he only improved to 1’16.361 in his next effort. Magnussen’s first lap out was the fastest of the two – 1’15.755 – and the tire continued to hold even more, producing a 1’13.954 on the final run which secured his place in Q2. His angry teammate was dismissed in last place.
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SladeOkay Kev. Can you go to the multitasking bravo four position one please. That multitasking B4 layout is one. See Latif in a timed round, three seconds later. 1.5 seconds now. It will be two pressures in a row, that’s why we have SOC two. And you can go to diff 21, please, diff 21. Hamilton in a timed lap, five seconds later. So you need to push the tires really hard, Kev, to get them up to temperature, please. Sladok Kev is five seconds behind you so the gap is good at this point. So push mode, just wait a bit, then you’re good to go. The second lap was probably the fastest. Slade (does two laps) Great job Kev. P3. Wonderful. You’re welcome mate. So please, mod it. Boxing this thigh obviously. So you’re P6 at the moment Kev, great job. How many laps do you want on dry tires for the next session? Magnussen I mean dry. Normal, maybe.SladeCopy So we go for a one-time round. Maybe we’re thinking run first, Kev, fast-fast-fast and then rethink it for the next run, just to get an idea.Magnussen Yes I agree SladeCopy. So Kev 40 seconds to the garage, 40 seconds for Kev.Slade and you’re done for reference P7, Kev you did a great job there.MagnussenYeah good job man.SladeOk Kev this is going to be a change, we need to be ready. Going right at the start of next session due to more rain coming our way.
Q2
As Q2 began the track continued to dry and it was clear that slick tires were the way to go. This time the team decided to do a cold lap in between their flat efforts and Magnussen’s first run resulted in a best time of 1’11.691.
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SladeSession starts at 15 seconds from 10 seconds. Magnussen just ahead of Vettel. Slade Copy that, Kev. That’s a green light now. Sladeoke’s Kev Gasly is four seconds behind, obviously also on the outside of the lap. SladeTyre temps are reasonable, maybe a little lower in the front but not too bad. So let’s make a space on the stroll. Mode push, mode push. Good to go.Magnussen let’s go SOC one.SladeCopy. SOC one is good. SladeDRS enabled, Kev, DRS enabled. SladeCharge enabled, charged. Just look at Gasli three seconds later. He has completed the expired round but may continue to another round. Looks like he’s still pushing. Yes, it’s going to pass you soon, ok. SladeMultifunction QR layout 10, please. Watch out for Verstappen after 10 seconds. So that multifunction QR position 10.SladeOkay currently there is no concern.SladeOkay gaps are good, mode pressure, good to go.Slade(lap ends) mode, this lap box, currently P4, excellent work Kev. So Kev we’re thinking we should do it fast-fast-fast again, what do you think? I’m thinking Magnus. Magnussen Yes, I agree. Copy that. So you are currently P4, 11.7, Gasly 11.675, Verstappen 11.670, Norris 11.571. Watch out for Gasly, one and a half… two seconds later. Slade So proving you’re a boxer this lap. MagnussenBox.
The rain returned as Magnussen headed out for his second and final run in Q2. But the track was dry enough for drivers to improve their lap times, which Magnussen did in his final attempt, clocking a 1’11.410 to ensure he reached Q3.
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Slade I’m wondering if we should add an extra front wing now. Copy Magnusson shape four. Mode K2 plus.SladeTrack is clear, track is clear. Ok Stroll you’ve got two seconds behind you, also out lap, no other threats at the moment. Magnus is very spat now. Slade Yeah, probably still the fastest tire for the first lap so push like you do. be able to. Hamilton was five seconds behind us on a timed lap. One green went by the sector, so it’s still fast. Magnussen If you can update me if anyone gets lost or expands, something like that. SladeYeah. Magnussen Which corner. That’s good info SladeOkay Hamilton five seconds later. Remember push mode you’re good to go, good to go. Sled cars are still speeding around the circuit, Kev. Still the right tire.Slade (last lap) Charge. Stay behind Perez, stay behind Perez.SladeWatch Norris two seconds after pushing. Even though time is slow now, these cars are still trying to go fast, but they just haven’t done it yet. Well Norris passed, Verstappen three and a half seconds later, it would be clear anyway. Verstappen two and a half seconds. You’re still a P8, Kev, you’re still a P8. Verstappen is coming, just be careful. So they think they can go faster on the next lap. We’ll see Magnussen. I think, yes.SladeOkay copy that. So Gasly, four and a half seconds, four seconds later, you have a timed lap. Three and a half seconds now. You have a good gap to Verstappen in front. Gasly, be careful. Still cars preparing green sectors. After two seconds on the gas, let it pass. We’re six seconds behind Alonso so you’re in good shape. It can go back a bit. Remember to push mode. And it’s good to go, it’s good to go. Slade (ends his lap) Okay, about this mode please, Kev. Currently P7, good job.SladeWatch out for Norris. Beware of Norris. Well, he’s about three seconds later, I think. There is still time left in the session. Okay Norris is behind, wait. We’ve got Alonso pushing back about six seconds, so just keep an eye on him. Is Magnussen behind us? At the time.SladeGasly? Yes, he is. So Vettel’s car is on the back lap. Norris in the back of the lap. Sorry, Alonso is ahead, he is behind. Gas on a timed lap is currently P12. You are still P7. Gasly has gone backwards so he won’t. Well, we think we’re fine. Maintain negative delta, maintain negative delta please Kev, make sure you do that. Watch out for Gaslin, he’s still two seconds, two seconds behind. This lap box box.MagnussenBox, box.SladeOkay Kev From what we’ve seen so far we think we should still go fast-slow.MagnussenYeah flip that. We need to dim the lights on the dash.SladeCopy.
Q3
As Q3 began the radars showed more rain coming, but the teams couldn’t quite tell when it would hit. Near the pit road exit, Haas sent Magnussen into it a minute before the situation worsened, with a set of slick tires installed.
All teams opted for the same tires except for Ferrari, who hedged their bets. Charles Leclerc lined up immediately behind Magnussen in the middle set, while Carlos Sainz Jr. took the lead behind him.
This worked in Magnuson’s favor. The longer Leclerc took to get out of the pits as the session began, the greater the chance of rain before the start of the session. But once he got on the track, he let Sainz pass and chose to pass Max Verstappen as well.
However, Magnussen built a significant gap on the pack and took advantage of the best conditions available. He nailed his first lap, producing a 1’11.674, just two tenths slower than in Q2. Sainz and Verstappen both made mistakes at the hands, while the others were struggling in the rain.
Haas’ radio exchange with Magnussen, in which he found out he was traveling for the pole position, was broadcast on world television during qualifying. These were edited for broadcast and the exact order of the messages shows how worried they were that the red flag raised by Russell could cost him pole position.
Sladecave You have just over a minute, just over a minute. So we have a car in the middle. They all dry up by now, okay. So it can be the first round. But if you think it’s too wet for obviously dry tires, we’ll box it for Inters. But now you’re in the same shape as everyone else. 35 seconds to go. Slade20 seconds to go. Slade10 seconds, Slade5 seconds, four, three, two, one, green light. SladeOkay Kev you’re in good shape. 12.SladeEnds lapMode Remember to push mode before turning in. Push it on the lap please do it quickly in the lap. SladeHow is the front wing, Kev, how is the front wing. Magnussen feels good. Leave it as it is. Slade is working. Magnussen in sector two is very wet now. Quali is it over now?Slade Copy that, Kev.SladeOkay Kev.MagnussenAt Mergulho what position are we?SladeEr, you P1, your friend.Magnussen you’re kidding.Slade you’re kidding. If we’re done tonight, I’ll have to buy everyone dinner. Magnus, you’re kidding! are you kidding me. Are you sure. Don’t be mad at me, girl. Red flag for Slade. Red Flag Red Flag Okay, this could be a problem, Kev, this could be a problem. Are you going to beat me Magnus? We got Slade hanger, red flag, red flag. We have a red flag which means the session will start again, Kev. There is still time. There’s still time, okay? So let’s keep it… We’re in good shape, Kev, we’re in good shape, but there’s a risk of the session restarting. So let’s just calm down, yeah?. So I have never felt like this in my life, P1.Magnussen stands in the pit box. Guys. Slade isn’t over yet. Don’t respect Magnus yet, don’t respect him yet, come on. Slade isn’t over yet, Kev. You’ve done a great job so far, but let’s stay focused.
When Q3 finally restarted, Magnussen and his team watched as the clock ticked into the pits as Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton took to the track but found it too wet to set a fast time. With two minutes to go, the team didn’t go out for a try.
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2022 Brazilian Grand Prix
Browse all 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix articles
