Under F1’s rules, some drivers get close to a ban if they get too many penalty points. It happened to Daniil Kvyat, Lewis Hamilton, and Pierre Gasly before, but only for a few months each time.
A long time ago, Jacques Villeneuve got a ban for driving too fast under yellow flags. He would have had to sit out nine races, but his team withdrew an appeal, so he didn’t.
Now, Kevin Magnussen faces an 11-month wait. That’s 17 races where even a small mistake could get him banned.
When asked how he felt racing under this threat, Magnussen said he didn’t think about it. He wants to keep pushing and not play it safe.
He talked about how he raced Lewis Hamilton hard in Miami, even though it wasn’t for points. He says he always tries to weigh the risks and benefits of his moves.
Magnussen says he doesn’t regret anything he’s done this year. He thinks the rules are too strict, but he follows them.
He thinks F1 should let drivers race more freely, like in IndyCar and sportscar racing.
Despite the controversy, Magnussen feels he’s learned from the situation. He hopes he won’t get banned, but he knows it’s still possible if he makes a mistake.
