Magnussen hits out at ‘Formula Fuelsaving’ after US GP DSQ
Kevin Magnussen has dubbed Formula 1 as ‘Formula Fuelsaving’ following his post-race disqualification from the United States Grand Prix for exceeding the maximum permitted fuel use at the Circuit of the Americas.
The Haas driver had been forced into a major economy drive over the closing laps of the team’s home race having used too much fuel but following a post-race inspection, the Danish driver was found to have used more than the permitted 105kg of fuel.
Kevin Magnussen has dubbed Formula 1 as ‘Formula Fuelsaving’ following his post-race disqualification from the United States Grand Prix for exceeding the maximum permitted fuel use at the Circuit of the Americas.
The Haas driver had been forced into a major economy drive over the closing laps of the team’s home race having used too much fuel but following a post-race inspection, the Danish driver was found to have used more than the permitted 105kg of fuel.
The FIA Stewards duly had no option but to disqualify Magnussen from his ninth-place finish meaning Haas ended its home round without scoring a single point for the first time in its burgeoning F1 history.
After the disqualification was confirmed, Magnussen vented his frustration at the rule on Twitter and claimed he was over the limit by 0.1kg.
Unfortunately today we were racing in Formula Fuelsaving rather than Formula 1. And we used 0.1kg (!) too much for the whole race so we got disqualified. Those are the rules so we just have to manage better. Car was great though and the pit stop was amazing. On to the next one!
— Kevin Magnussen (@KevinMagnussen) October 21, 2018
“It’s a shame that we have fuel saving in Formula 1 and not being able to attack,” Magnussen added after the race. “At the end of the day, what the fans want to see is great racing. We can’t do it because we have to save fuel. It’s disappointing.”
“I would say it was a steady race. The car was very good. We had good pace and I was able to put pressure on the Force Indias. I passed Perez just after the pit stop and I was faster than Ocon, but I had to save so much fuel that I couldn’t afford to attack him.”
For 2019 the total amount of fuel allowed for an F1 race increases by 5kg to 110kg – which would have been enough for Magnussen to keep his ninth place finish. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkkonen was also heard on team radio having to manage his fuel consumption as he went on to win at the Circuit of the Americas, while Force India’s Esteban Ocon was also disqualified for a fuel infringement.
The French driver, who finished in eighth place directly ahead of Magnussen, was omitted from the US GP results after exceeding the fuel flow limit on his opening lap.
The post-race result changes see Serigo Perez promoted up to eighth place for Force India with Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley and Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson picking up the final points in ninth and tenth respectively.
It marks the first fuel disqualifications since the 2014 Australian Grand Prix when Daniel Ricciardo was denied a maiden home round podium on his Red Bull debut for exceeding his fuel flow limit. On that day, Magnussen was promoted to second place for McLaren which remains his sole F1 podium.
