Magnussen: Father at races is distracting

Kevin Magnussen in the garage

It seems Jan Magnussen will not be a regular fixture at grands prix this year.

The former F1 driver had to miss his son Kevin's grand prix debut in Melbourne last month because he was racing a sports car on the other side of the world.

"Being 6000 miles away watching the race was not a lot of fun," said Magnussen, 40. "I do not want to do that too often."

He was trackside for race two in Malaysia, amid his deliberations about whether to quit his own racing career in order to support his son's.

"Now Kevin is in formula one I've thought a lot about how long my career will go on," said Magnussen snr, who was a teenager when Kevin was born.

"I've got to decide whether I can focus on what I'm doing or whether I'd rather be with Kevin."

But in China for the fourth round of the season, Kevin has now revealed he prefers to travel the world alone.

Asked by the Guardian if he would welcome his father quitting his own career to support his, the 21-year-old paused before replying: "Not really.

"I'm quite happy to be alone. For the reason that if I have family round I feel a distraction."

Magnussen said he enjoys talking with his father about racing and F1, "but it's not a help at the race."

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