McLaren racing director Eric Boullier believes that Kevin Magnussen is suffering from 'rookie syndrome' in his maiden Formula 1 season. Boullier reckons that McLaren's young protege is facing the typical challenge of moving from winning regularly in junior formula to competing for the top 10 in the sport's top echelon. Magnussen finished on the podium on his Formula 1 debut in Australia but has scored just a handful of points across the most recent five events. "Kevin is facing the rookie syndrome in that they […]

Kevin Magnussen has joked that Kimi Raikkonen was drinking when they collided during the Monaco Grand Prix. Magnussen had been struggling with power unit issues during the closing stages of the race when he was hit by Raikkonen into the Loews hairpin. Raikkonen was reprimanded for the incident and went on to finish 12th, two places behind Magnussen. "You can't close the gap completely in Loews because the cars can't turn sharp enough to get around - but I closed it as much as possible," […]

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was reprimanded after causing a collision with Kevin Magnussen towards the end of the Monaco Grand Prix. Magnussen and Raikkonen were battling over seventh place when the Finn tried to overtake his rival at the hairpin, resulting in both drivers nudging into the barriers. Magnussen recovered to 10th, with Raikkonen outside of the points in 12th. "I’m still not really sure what happened with my car at the end of the race," said Magnussen, who was slipping back due to a power […]

Jenson Button is sure that McLaren will fare better in Monaco as they arrive at the circuit on the back of a string of disappointing races. Button finished the season-opening race in third place but McLaren has failed to score a single point since March due to reliability issues and a lack of downforce. But the Brit, who won in Monaco five years ago, believes that the layout of track should play to the characteristics of the MP4-29. "More than any other 2014 race, I […]

McLaren has confirmed that an issue with the power unit on Kevin Magnussen's MP4-29 halted the Dane's progress in Spain. Magnussen was unable to set a time in Q2 and will consequently start from 15th on the grid. "We’ve definitely made improvements to the car – it’s just a shame I couldn’t prove it to the team this afternoon," he said. "I don’t exactly know what the problem was with my car. We had an issue with the power unit during Q1 that we tried […]

McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen is hopeful of an improved showing at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. Magnussen finished in second place on his debut in Australia but has since had a more difficult time and failed to score points in Bahrain and China. The Dane now returns to the venue where he clinched the Formula Renault 3.5 Championship at the end of 2013. "As a team, we’ve had a difficult couple of races, so I think we all head to Spain hopeful of better fortunes," […]

Three drivers joined the grid in 2014 - here's how they've fared after the first part of the season. Formula 1 debutants have a lot to become accustomed to in a very short space of time. A new team, a new team-mate, a completely new and more powerful car, much greater media interest – especially from their own nation, new circuits, longer races than anything they’re used to, a more intense schedule, consistent scrutiny of minor errors as well as fans clamouring that there’s someone […]

Jenson Button says that McLaren lacked front end grip during the Chinese Grand Prix. McLaren struggled across the weekend in China and Button could only manage 11th place. "There are cars with lower downforce out there," he told Sky Sports. "We’re struggling with front tyre temperature, it's not that you don’t switch it on it's just that it grains immediately. "It's tough for us driving the car was we put up with it for an hour and a half, but tough for the guys at […]

Jenson Button lamented McLaren's pace after he was eliminated during the second segment of qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. Button set the 12th fastest time in the wet at the Shanghai International Circuit and bemoaned a lack of grip with his MP4-29. "It’s been a strange year in terms of the car in the wet, usually we’re good but we’re struggling for grip," he told Sky Sports. "[I] can’t get the front [tyres] working in low speed corners, [they're] just shuddering so we can’t […]

There were mixed emotions at McLaren following practice for the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai. Jenson Button was sixth quickest in the second session and believes the team has made improvements to the MP4-29. "In terms of driveability, I think we’ve improved the car in a number of areas since Bahrain," he said. "There are a few more things we can do overnight, and there are some positive steps we can take to move a little closer to the front. After all, two weeks ago, […]

McLaren CEO Ron Dennis has emphasised that his outfit must return to the top step of the podium in 2014. McLaren has not won a race since Jenson Button's victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2012 but Dennis insists that his squad can win races later this season. "I think we could win races in the later part of the season," he told the Official F1 website. "I want to see a linear progression because we must end the season winning. This has to […]

Kevin Magnussen believes that McLaren should be more competitive in Bahrain this weekend than they were in Malaysia, although concedes that they are unlikely to replicate the form they showed in Australia. Magnussen and team-mate Jenson Button notched up a double podium finish for McLaren in Australia, while in Malaysia Button finished in sixth, with Magnussen back in ninth after making contact with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. But Magnussen reckons McLaren's performance will be somewhere between what they have demonstrated in the two races so far. […]