It is often suggested that while misfortune such as a car failure or a shunt may ruin one race for a driver, over a season of more than 20 rounds that tends to even out. In reality, this is seldom the case, and some drivers end up suffering more bad luck than their rivals during a championship.
Kevin Magnussen
Car problems in practice: 4Car problems in qualifying: 1Rounds with PU grid penalty: 3Minor car problems in a race/sprint: 2Significantly slow pit stops: 0Retirements from contact: 1Retirements from car failure: 2Retirement rate: 22.7%
Kevin Magnussen’s return to Formula 1 was by no means straightforward. He made an impressive return to the sport by scoring multiple points with Haas over the opening rounds, but his luck soon turned.
Among the technical troubles Magnussen encountered with his VF-22 were a series of power unit problems. As ever, these proved a double whammy, compromising both the events in which they struck and subsequent rounds where he had to take grid penalties: France, Italy and Mexico.
Then there is the matter of the highly unusual trio of black-and-orange flags Magnussen encountered over the season, each forcing him into the pits for repairs and badly compromising his races. Should these be considered examples of misfortune?
Arguably not, as each was provoked by contact with another driver which caused the initial damage. But as Haas pointed out other drivers in similar situations were not always called into the pits by the race director, notably Fernando Alonso in Austin.
