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Magnussen: Haas can match "strongest midfielder"

09:43, 21 Apr 2018

bySam Bytheway

Kevin Magnussen is confident his Haas team can regularly challenge Formula One's strongest 'midfield' package, Renault.

The battle to control the midfield of F1 this season has been tight, with Haas, McLaren, Toro Rosso and Renault all enjoying spells at the top. Force India and Sauber have also had top 10 finishes, with only Williams yet to score in 2018.

McLaren currently holds fourth spot in the Constructors’ title battle, its total of 28 points three more than Renault, while Haas has amassed 11 points, leaving it behind Toro Rosso in seventh.

Magnussen, however, believes his team deserves more, saying:

“At the moment, I think we are very even with Renault and perhaps a little faster than McLaren, at least in qualifying.

“The rest of the midfield, perhaps, seems a little more inconsistent, but they can definitely be up there with the rest of us on occasions.

“Renault is probably the strongest competitor in the midfield, but I think we have a car that can easily match them, and when we do well, beat them also. That should be our aim at the moment – to be fighting those guys.

“Obviously, we want to improve on last year’s result, which was eighth, and I think that’s a feasible target.

“We’re doing well at the moment, in terms of performance, but if we find ourselves in a good position halfway through the season, then maybe we have to reset our goals.”