Magnussen: I’m not here to make friends

Kevin Magnussen insists he does not pay attention to social media where he has been criticised by rival drivers and F1 fans.

The Haas driver has courted controversy several times this season as he has been involved in incidents with rival drivers.

His two most notable – involving Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso – set social media alight.

He is ignoring it all.

“One thing I stopped a while ago was looking at social media,” he told Ekstra Bladet newspaper. “As a public person you are often mentioned and receive many messages.
“It may be frustrating to look at so that has helped a lot.

“I do not care what people are saying about me. If someone says something negative, I get to know from you (journalists), but I’m not actually bothered.

“Of course, it’s not my goal to be unpopular, rather to get results, and sometimes you have to put your elbows a bit.”

He added: “Many drivers have complained about me this year but I do not want to say that I’m the most popular field among the riders.

“What matters to me is the results and what the stewards say. And this year I’ve only got one penalty because of my driving, and that means I’m not so bad.

“In the paddock, I have friends, but not among the drivers. It would never work. So I do not mind making friends.”