Many Formula 1 drivers have been caught up in the simulation craze. It’s easy to think that car simulation is mainly the domain of the new generation of drivers such as Charles Leclerc. But when even guys like Fernando Alonso get involved, it’s clear that virtual sport transcends the age barrier. But there’s one boundary that has long remained impassable, and that’s the one that separates Kévin Magnussen from Simracing.
However, it would appear that this boundary has been crossed, since he officially became an Asetek Simsports partner on May 5, 2022. It’s the perfect time, then, to take stock of Kevin Magnussen’s relationship with simracing.
No, Magnussen is not a fan of simracing
The confinement of 2020 was a turning point in the world of simracing. After long months of confinement at home, there was a 30% increase in the number of new players.
And while most of his fellow drivers were flocking to virtual tracks during the 2020 confinement, Kevin Magnussen was sticking to his guns. At Haas, Romain Grosjean had taken to simracing, as had drivers Pietro Fittipaldi and Louis Deletraz.
As he has said at length over the years, for him the simulator is absolutely no substitute for the track. And when he returns home to Denmark, it’s on the karting track that he gets his kicks.
His father, Jan Magnussen, a former Formula 1 driver and 4-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has a cockpit in his living room. The two of them sometimes challenge each other to duels on virtual tracks. But for Kévin, it’s a computer with no more interest than that.
It’s interesting to note, however, that despite this disenchantment with simulators, it was Kévin who helped develop the McLaren simulator and tested the Porsche one.
What Kevin Magnussen had to say about simracing in 2020
“I don’t think it’s as interesting as driving on the track. OK, there are quite a few points of comparison, but there are still big differences. It (simracing) is a long way from the simulators used by the racing teams. And even here, there’s a giant leap forward with what happens on the track. When I’m in the Haas simulator for a few hours, all I want to do is go out and get some fresh air.“
“Some people think I can’t handle it. But that’s got nothing to do with it. It’s just that I prefer to get some fresh air and go for a real run. When I go back to Denmark, I go karting. I think it’s much better than the simulator and much more fun. For a driver, the best training is to be on the track.”
Magnussent’s surprising partnership with Asetek SimSports
Given Kevin Magnussen’s apparent lack of interest in simracing, I was surprised to see that he had just signed a partnership with Asetek SimSports. What does this partnership involve? What exactly will Magnussen’s role be? These are just some of the questions I sought answers to.
To see: We visit Asetek’s HQ in Denmark and test drive Kévin Magnussen’s chassis!
What is Asetek SimSports?
Since 2000, Asetek has specialized in cooling systems for computers and data centers. But we now also know them for their mid-range and high-end simracing equipment. They started out with pedalboards that succeeded in offering a very high quality feel without breaking the €1,000 barrier. But they’re in the midst of developing their ecosystem, and their ambition is to offer complete simracing platforms.
What will Keving Magnussen do with Asetek SimSports?
The deal between Magnussen and Asetek is to enable the simracing brand to offer equipment that comes as close as possible to the sensations felt in a real Formula 1 car.
For example, he spent long days with the brand’s engineers to fine-tune the “ MagnussenMode “. A force feedback setting that perfectly replicates what the driver feels through the steering wheel of an F1car. We tested it, and it’s just crazy!
But that’s not all, he’s also helped to improve the braking system of the Invicta crankset with a kit that slightly modifies the stroke and hardness of the brake.
Kevin Magnussen will also be a brand ambassador, so we should be seeing a few Instagram posts on the subject fairly frequently over the coming months.
There’s a lot of simracing equipment out there that claims to replicate a Formula 1 car. But they’re missing the point because they’ve been designed by people who have no F1 experience.
André and I share a passion for racing, and by teaming up with Asetek I can help them bring the thrill of authentic F1 to simracers around the world.
Kevin Magnussen on his partnership with Asetek SimSports: Source Asetek.com
The André in question is in fact André Sloth Eriksen, founder and CEO of Asetek. He too is very excited about this announcement:
Kevin is a great ambassador for Asetek SimSports. We share a lot of the same values both on and off the track. For me, Formula 1 is not only the Everest of motorsport, it’s even more than that. And it will be a proud moment for the Asetek team and me when we see an Asetek Simsports logo in an F1 paddock.
André Sloth Eriksen, on the partnership with Magnussen: Same source as the previous quote.
The crankset brand sets out its ambitions. In collaboration with Kevin Magnussen, it wants to design the most realistic cranksets in terms of feel. To be able to transport any player into the cockpit of a Formula 1 car.
We’ll just have to wait and see what these little gems will feel like on the pitch!
In fact, let me share with you a little thought I’m having at the moment: After all, who’s going to be able to judge whether the gamble has paid off or not? Only an F1 driver can tell! We’ll just have to rely on Asetek and Magnussen to offer us the grail of simracing.
