Kevin Magnussen described his Formulation One comeback as a loopy roller-coaster experience after qualifying his Haas a sensational seventh for Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The one workforce that failed to attain some extent final 12 months all of a sudden appear like prime 10 runners and Magnussen, drafted in as a late substitute for sacked Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, was pinching himself in delight.

“Loopy! I am super-happy,” the 29-year-old mentioned after Saturday’s floodlit session on the Sakhir circuit.

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“It has been an enormous roller-coaster from getting the decision from [team boss] Guenther [Steiner], getting actually stunned by that, after which making an attempt to make it occur,” he informed Sky Sports activities.

“There have been some obstacles I needed to kind out [to get back into F1] and that was already a bit nervous, after which getting right here, driving the automotive for the primary time, having a sore neck.

“You hope the automotive is sweet however you by no means actually know with Formulation One testing, and now right here and having a problem in qualifying and never considering we may get out in Q3. What a roller-coaster.”

Magnussen was late to affix the ultimate prime 10 shootout, hitting the observe with simply three minutes left after his Ferrari-powered automotive had suffered an hydraulics problem within the second section.

That gave him just one flying lap, however the finish end result was all he may have hoped for.

Teammate Mick Schumacher certified twelfth.

“I really feel so unbelievably fortunate to be on this scenario that I am in, with automotive in Formulation One. It is a whole lot of enjoyable,” Magnussen, who left Haas on the finish of 2020 and had given up on returning, mentioned.

“Beginning P7, if you are able to do that you have to go for factors. The most important concern is reliability I might say, however fingers crossed we are able to get there.”