Kevin Magnussen says that “something weird” has happened and given him confidence in the Haas VF-24 in last two races, with the Dane citing changes to the brakes as one possible reason.
The team had an aero update in Austin, where Magnussen qualified eighth for the sprint, and finished it in seventh.
He also qualified ninth for the main event, although he finished out of the points after a strategy miss-step by the team.
In Mexico he qualified and finished seventh, well clear of team mate Nico Hulkenberg and the rest of the midfield runners.
“I think we did the best we could today,” he said when asked by formu1a.uno about his performance.
“We couldn’t have done it better if we tried it again. So just had the kind that sweet spot, was super confident in the car, very, very comfortable, didn’t make any mistake through the whole race.
“So it was just so easy to drive, I could push the tyres and manage them at the same time, and just got it into that little window where the magic happens.”
Magnussen admitted that he was surprised by his race form relative to the following pack.
“I wasn’t confident on the grid before the race that I was just going to be pulling away,” he said. “But that ended up being the case.
“I was behind Mercedes, so kind of I was thinking, this might be okay! So, yeah, very happy.”
Asked why it has gone so well he said: “I don’t know. We made some changes, to the brakes, for example. And I’ve just been very confident in the car.
“And what I need to do is try and hang on to that confidence. Something weird has changed in that the last two races that has given me a car that I can really push.”
He added: “I think it’s getting better and better. As I said a couple of things, apart from the upgrade, were changed, and are better.
“So certainly I’ve been very confident in the car in the last two races, and it’s been nice to drive, and it’s been enjoyable.”
Magnussen said that new confidence was the key to his stronger qualifying performances.
“I think when you’re really on the limit, you need to be confident on the brakes,” he said.
“You need to just feel confident that the car is going to do what you what you ask it to. And we’ve had a quick car for a while, I just haven’t been confident with it.
“And these last two races, at least, I’ve been confident. And I think it’s down to some of the changes that were done to the brakes, for example.
“And I think the upgrade is also in my direction. We’ve got a stronger rear, and a little bit weaker front. So I think that’s not bad for me.”
Asked if the car can be a Q3 challenger everywhere he was more circumspect.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it swings around,” he said. “It’s F1, so you never know. And especially in the midfield, there’s no guarantee. So we’ve been strong in these last two races, and very happy that we got something out of that.”