Magnussen: Haas F1 team-mate Grosjean faster than Button on his day
Kevin Magnussen says Haas Formula 1 team-mate Romain Grosjean is faster than Jenson Button "on his day" and is providing better benchmark for comparison than 2016 Renault team-mate Jolyon Palmer
Having left the Renault works F1 team at the end of last season to join Haas, Magnussen has enjoyed a strong start to 2017 - scoring points in three races, including a season's best seventh at the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which jumped Magnussen one place above Grosjean in the drivers' championship.
Magnussen's qualifying form has also improved after a shaky start.
He has outqualified Grosjean for three of the past five races, though has yet to make Q3 in eight attempts, while his team-mate has made the top 10 on three occasions.
Magnussen says Grosjean's raw speed over one lap compares favourably to 2009 world champion Jenson Button, who Magnussen was partnered by at McLaren during his rookie F1 season in 2014.
"He's got everything I need from a team-mate," Magnussen said of Grosjean.
"Raw speed, so I can compare and learn from him, and he's got experience as well.
"So for me he is a very good team-mate - perhaps on his day faster than Jenson, but Jenson was very consistent."
Magnussen said recently that Haas provides a "healthier" environment than McLaren or Renault, and he also feels he is benefitting from having a proven team-mate on the other side of the garage again.
"You only have your team-mate to compare and to show yourself and prove yourself [against]," Magnussen added.
"It's much better having a proven team-mate who has a good reputation and is known to be very quick, so it's good to have him [Grosjean]."
GROSJEAN VS MAGNUSSEN IN 2017
Australia: Grosjean qualifies sixth as Magnussen fails to escape Q1. A turbo problem robs Grosjean of points in the race as Magnussen retires with a puncture.
China: Magnussen scores his first points for Haas, finishing eighth after qualifying 12th. A spin and yellow flags prevent Grosjean escaping Q1 and he misses the points by one place.
Bahrain: Magnussen qualifies last and retires early with electrical failure. Grosjean makes Q3 again and scores his first points of 2017 with eighth.
Russia: Grosjean's turn to qualify slowest, struggling massively under braking then colliding with Palmer on lap one. Magnussen is 13th on a tough weekend for Haas.
Spain: Magnussen outqualifies Grosjean again but loses points in a late collision with Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso, promoting Grosjean to 10th.
Monaco: Magnussen is scuppered by traffic in qualifying as Grosjean makes the top 10 again. Grosjean bags eighth in the race while Magnussen is 10th thanks to mayhem ahead.
Canada: Magnussen drops out in Q1 again thanks to traffic, but becomes a defensive shield in the race for his team-mate, who survives a lap-one collision with Carlos Sainz Jr to finish 10th.
Azerbaijan: Magnussen finishes a season's best seventh as Grosjean struggles all weekend under braking. Grosjean's race is ruined by a front disc malfunction.
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