Kevin Magnussen retains P4 after stewards rule on Lewis Hamilton incident

Michelle Foster
Kevin Magnussen up close in the Haas. Miami May 2023

Kevin Magnussen up close in the Haas. Miami May 2023

Kevin Magnussen has retained his impressive P4 on the Miami Grand Prix grid after the stewards ruled “no further action” following his incident with Lewis Hamilton in Q1.

Magnussen and Hamilton tripped over each other at Turn 17 with Hamilton needing to avoid the slow-moving Magnussen as the Dane backed off to create a gap to the car ahead.

Darting to the right, Hamilton tapped the wall and broke his front wing.

Both drivers progressed into Q2 where Hamilton finished with the 13th fastest time while Magnussen went into Q3 where he qualified fourth.

The two were called to see the stewards after qualifying where it was declared no further action was necessary.

“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 20 (Kevin Magnussen), the driver of Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), team representatives and reviewed video, team radio and in-car video evidence and determined that Car 20 was on a slow lap, with another slow car in front of it,” read the stewards’ report.

“Car 44 was on an in-lap and could see Car 20 at the end of the straight. The unexpectedly high-speed differential between the two cars resulted in Car 44 having to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

PlanetF1.com recommends

Winners and losers from 2023 Miami Grand Prix qualifying

F1 starting grid: What is the grid order for the Miami Grand Prix?

“Given that neither car was on a fast lap and the fact that Car 20 had another slow car ahead of it, we did not consider either driver to be driving dangerously.

“Given that they were not on fast laps, there was no question of impeding either. So in the circumstances, we decided to take no further action.”

While Hamilton finished qualifying down in 13th place, Magnussen put his Haas up onto the second row of the grid as he qualified P4.

“Pole position feels better, but I’m absolutely delighted with the results today,” said the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix pole-sitter.

“Here in the US, at our home race, with all our big sponsors present here today, they must have had a thrill and I’m very happy.

“We’ve been looking good. I don’t think we are fourth quickest but we’ve been looking competitive – actually, in the really high fuel yesterday looked very good.

“It’s nice to be starting all the way up there.”

The Dane, though, concedes he won’t be up in P4 for very long.

“I don’t think our car pace is good enough to stay there but at least we’re starting up there in a good position,” he said. “The aim is to get points home and I think that should be possible from where we’re starting.”