‘He’s not afraid’… Karun Chandhok says £3.9m-a-year star is F1’s best defensive driver

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Defensive driving is one of the key aspects of Formula 1 especially as not every track is as narrow as the streets of Monte Carlo.

The likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton haven’t necessarily had to practice the art of defensive driving as during their peaks they could simply drive off into the distance.

Karun Chandhok was building his perfect Formula 1 driver, via Sky Sports F1’s social media channels, and chose a driver who typically finds himself in the middle of on-track battles every weekend.

Not only can drivers earn themselves points by making sure they make their car as wide as possible on track, but it can also help their teammates as well.

Chandhok therefore believes that Haas star Kevin Magnussen is the best defensive driver on the grid.

His antics this season have raised plenty of eyebrows and he’s crossed the line – sometimes literally – on a few occasions when protecting his position.

However, it’s hard to deny that his teammate Nico Hulkenberg hasn’t benefitted as a result of his actions this season.

READ MORE: Haas driver Kevin Magnussen’s life outside F1 from wife and daughters to net worth

Karun Chandhok says Kevin Magnussen is the best defensive driver in Formula 1

It’s fair to say that Kevin Magnussen has been one of the most controversial drivers on the grid in 2024.

The £3.9m-a-year driver has been involved in some intense battles this season that the stewards have ultimately ruled required punishment.

He held up nearly half the grid in Saudi Arabia to help Hulkenberg score his first point of the season, but his move to defend from Alex Albon earned him his first three penalty points of the year.

At the Chinese Grand Prix, Magnussen crashed into Yuki Tsunoda, ending the Japanese driver’s race and increasing his tally to five.

Magnussen then doubled his penalty points tally in Miami, picking up three points for repeatedly leaving the track during the Sprint Race to prevent Lewis Hamilton from passing.

The Dane was then ruled to be at fault for his collision with Logan Sargeant which saw the American end up in the barriers at his home Grand Prix.

Chandhok’s suggestion that Magnussen is the best defensive driver comes off the back of another crash the 31-year-old was involved in.

He wasn’t adjudged by the stewards to be at fault for his collision with Sergio Perez which ultimately ended his teammate’s race as well, but he may count himself lucky that he’s not been banned for the Canadian Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Martin Brundle shares who he thinks was at fault for Sergio Perez’s crash at the Monaco Grand Prix

Kevin Magnussen hailed as Formula 1’s best defensive driver

Building his perfect Formula 1 drive from the current grid, Chandhok said: “For defending, you’ve got to look at just Kevin Magnussen, haven’t you?

“He’s not afraid to get his elbows out. We saw all of that in Miami earlier this year, so yeah I’m going to pick Kevin.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship

Kevin Magnussen faces uncertain Formula 1 future

Magnussen might be the best defensive driver in Formula 1 according to Chandhok, but he may need to do more to secure his place on the grid next season.

The Dane’s contract runs out at the end of the 2024 season and team principal Ayao Komatsu is reportedly unsure about whether he deserves an extension.

Kevin Magnussen admitted that concrete talks haven’t begun yet with Haas over extending his stay beyond 2025.

Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman is expected to join Haas in a full-time capacity next year after impressing during his cameo in Saudi Arabia and his FP1 outings for the team.

Haas are also eyeing other drivers on the grid including Esteban Ocon after he recently announced he would be leaving Alpine.

RB driver Yuki Tsunoda is also a potential option for Haas after Red Bull confirmed they had extended Sergio Perez’s contract.