Magnussen: Thank you Gene Haas, Guenther and the whole team

The tale of Kevin Magnussen's return to the top flight, when he had a career well set outside of F1 which he turned his back on at the end of 2020, fed up with the below-par and never-improving Haas car that had him toiling at the wrong end of the grid in the final years of the first chapter of his career.

Thus when Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner sought him out to replace Nikita Mazepin earlier this year, and join Mick Schumacher in the team, Magnussen was back in F1 against the odds and today was payback for the faith shown in him by the team.

Magnussen claimed his first pole position in a tricky session at Interlagos, the Sao Paulo weather again throwing a curved ball by not entirely wetting the circuit but spitting down enough for to trick most of the big names and top teams.

After disbelieving at first that he was top of the time sheets when George Russell's beached Mercedes brought out the Red flags, with eight minutes to go in Q3 but the rain arrived by then and no one was going out as marshals cleared the stricken Silver Arrow.

K-Mag was overwhelmed by the news that he topped the timing sheets at that point, and later, beaming from ear to ear, he said in parc ferme after qualifying: "I still can't really believe it. What a phenomenal job the team did to put me out on the pit lane as the first car to give me the best piece of track.

"It was starting to rain so that was the crucial part. In this sport, at least I do go up and down (with emotions). It's a lot of fun on days like this, that's for sure."

Before Magnussen's career went south at McLaren, he scored a podium on his debut in Australia back in 2014; asked to compare the two big moments of his career, albeit eight years apart, the Dane said: "I didn't know what to expect back then.

"I came in as this arrogant little kid thinking I was the king of the world. I had a lot of lessons after that, showing how difficult it actually is in this sport. Now I'm on pole position so I'm just going to enjoy."

Later, in the Haas team report, Magnussen added: "I want to say thank you to Gene Haas, Guenther and the whole team for taking me back on and giving me the opportunity to have a day like this – I’m so chuffed. The team put me out in the pitlane as the first car and that was the game-changer.

"It gave me the best piece of track as it started to rain and we got pole. It was the longest minute of my life trying to stay calm as it looked like it was going to be wet but you never know. I’m so happy," added the 30-year-old, on the occasion of his 140th Grand Prix weekend.

In stark contrast, Magnussen's younger teammate Mick Schumacher will start 20th on the grid with the other Haas car in the number one spot!

If Schumacher's career depended on a good showing in the final races of this season, he is in deep trouble with today's showing, which was dismal in the light of the job done by the guy in the other car and no surprise if it is the final straw for the 23-year-old German.

Haas are expected to make a decision after Brazil, pending Ferrari's call on Schumacher, while the American team - with big backing from MoneyGram next year, are angling for experience (in the form of Nico Hulkenberg according to the grapevine) while firmly out of love with Michael Schumacher's son. DTM in 2023 maybe?

Mick said in the team report: “Firstly, Congratulations to Kevin and the team – they really deserve this. On my side, it was a bit confusing but maybe I underestimated the grip. The track looked pretty damp, but it wasn’t as much as I thought. It’s very frustrating and it means the job will be a bit harder but we’re up for it."

Magnussen's top spot start for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, is the first time a Haas driver has started from pole in the 142 Grand Prix weekends they have contested, since their debut in the top flight, in 2016.