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We will be happy when we win - Magnussen

ESPN Staff
March 27, 2014 « Alonso still has faith Ferrari can build a world-beating car | Minute's silence confirmed for missing flight »
Kevin Magnussen is taking advice from Ron Dennis to heart following his debut © Sutton Images
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Kevin Magnussen insists he is no longer focussing on his debut podium as it is still a long way off what McLaren believes it can achieve this year.

Magnussen finished second in Melbourne after Daniel Ricciardo's disqualification, while Jenson Button's third showed McLaren is the closest team to challenging Mercedes and Williams at present. But Magnussen is refusing to dwell on his debut as he is convinced McLaren's goal of recording a win in 2014 is a genuine one.

"As a team we got the most out of what we had, we can feel proud of that but we aren't where we want to be yet. We just have to keep pushing. We feel all the teams are pushing flat out where we want be. A podium was never a goal in itself. It's nice to get one, and a fantastic result for me, but we are not happy with third. We want to win. That's when we will be happy."

After his debut there were plenty of comparisons with Lewis Hamilton, who finished third on his McLaren debut, but Magnussen admits some advice from Ron Dennis has been crucial in keeping a level head.

"I'm not getting carried away with the result we got in Australia," he said. "Ron just told me to do my very best, nothing less, and just enjoy it, and keep my feet on the ground - which I think is very good advice. It obviously has been a crazy few months with everything which has gone on since getting the seat and getting the podium in the first race. I didn't expect that at all four months ago. Temperatures here are much higher and that's going to affect the tyres a lot. It's a different track and a different challenge. It's a new one for me, I've never driven here before. I have to get used to it and learn as much as I can from Jenson."

Though Magnussen benefitted the most from Ricciardo's disqualification, he admits he will never forget what position he crossed the line in.

"I feel like I finished third. When I talk to people I say I finished third, and I remember finishing third. I don't take any joy in the fact that Daniel has been disqualified. Obviously I will take the points but I feel sorry for Daniel because he did a good job at home on his Red Bull debut."

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