- McLaren
Magnussen taking nothing for granted
Kevin Magnussen is not taking his opportunity to drive for McLaren for granted and believes he has to start from zero to prove himself in Formula One.
Magnussen will spend his rookie year with McLaren after impressing the team as a member of its young driver programme. He comes to F1 as Formula Renault 3.5 champion, but says he is prepared to work even harder now he is at the top level of motorsport.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity I've been given, and in a way it still hasn't really sunk in yet," he told the official Formula One website. "When I got into the car for the first time at Jerez last Thursday, in fact, it still felt a bit strange. But I'm a firm believer that there are no guarantees in this world, so I'm now focusing on the work I need to do to justify the privilege of being a Formula One driver.
"I certainly don't take anything for granted - I know that all the work I did in the junior formulas was only enough to get me to the door of Formula One - and now I'm having to start all over again to prove that I deserve the opportunity to stay here. In the past few weeks, and in the next few weeks also, working closely with all the McLaren guys who've given me that opportunity, I'm determined to justify the faith that's been put in me."
McLaren struggled to fifth in the constructors' championship in 2013 after failing to score a podium all year, but Magnussen believes the team has what it takes to get back on track.
"I've got total faith in McLaren's engineers and mechanics, and it's clear that they're offering me the right guidance and assistance. They're all great guys. Lastly, I don't think anyone can predict with much confidence what's going to happen in the opening races, whether you're a super-experienced world champion like Jenson or a rookie like me."
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