Yahoo Autos Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team to Part Ways at End of Season
Long-serving Haas Formula 1 racer Kevin Magnussen will be leaving the team at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign.
Magnussen is in his seventh season for Haas, across two spells (2017-20, 2022-24), and has been with the team for 135 of his 175 Grands Prix.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone at Haas—I’m proud to have raced for such a great team of people these last few years,” Magnussen said.
“In particular I’d like to thank Gene Haas for his commitment to me, notably in bringing me back once again in 2022 when I thought, at that time at least, my time in Formula 1 had ended.
“I’ve enjoyed some great moments with this team—memories I’ll never forget. While I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my racing career, I remain fully focused on giving everything I’ve got for the rest of 2024 with Haas.”
The development has been widely expected for several weeks, with Magnussen having struggled for performance alongside Nico Hulkenberg, scoring only five points to the German’s 22 this season.
Last month the 31-year-old Dane was receptive to the idea of leaving Formula 1’s midfield to chase opportunities in other categories, having competed in IMSA, Le Mans, and IndyCar during his year away from Formula 1 in 2021.
Magnussen delivered some standout displays for Haas, most notably in São Paulo in 2022, when he claimed a shock maiden pole position for both himself and the team.
The news, announced ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, allows Magnussen time to explore alternative options for 2025, with opportunities in Formula 1 now few and far between.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised Magnussen for his loyalty to Haas and also suggested a non-race role could be a possibility for 2025.
“I’d like to thank Kevin for everything he’s given us as a team—both on and off the track,” Komatsu said. “He’s truly been a bedrock of our driver lineup over the years.
“There’s plenty of racing to go this year so I’m looking forward to seeing what else we can achieve with Kevin as we push together in the championship.
“Beyond that, and with Kevin’s special relationship with the team, I’m hoping we can find a way to keep working together in some capacity.
“We can hopefully define that in the near future, but his extensive experience in Formula 1 and knowledge of our working operations are undoubtedly of value in our on-going growth and development.”
It means Haas will enter next season with a completely overhauled driver line-up, with Magnussen exiting, and Nico Hulkenberg off to join the Audi-controlled Sauber team.
Haas has already signed Ferrari Driver Academy youngster Oliver Bearman on a multi-year deal but the identity of his teammate has not been revealed.
Alpine outcast Esteban Ocon is expected to move to Haas but an announcement has not yet been forthcoming.
The official statement from Haas F1 Team:
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team can confirm Kevin Magnussen will depart his race seat upon the conclusion of his current contract at the end of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Magnussen (31) is the longest tenured driver in MoneyGram Haas F1 Team history with the 2024 season marking his seventh season competing for the American outfit across two spells (2017 – 2020, 2022 – 2024).
With 135 starts to-date for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, from a career total of 175 Formula 1 starts – Magnussen, who has also competed for McLaren and Renault, is set for 12 more races for the team through to the completion of the 2024 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. The Danish racer scored a career-high ninth place finish in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team in 2018 – scoring top 10 finishes in 11 out of 21 races – assisting the team on its way to its best-ever finish of fifth in the Constructors’ Championship that season.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team looks forward to working with the Dane for the remainder of the 2024 season in his racing capacity and adding to his top 10 results from Australia and Austria earlier this year.
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team said: “I’d like to thank Kevin for everything he’s given us as a team – both on and off the track. He’s truly been a bedrock of our driver line-up over the years. Nobody’s driven more races for us and we’ve had some memorable highlights together – not least a remarkable fifth place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022 when Kevin returned to start his second spell with the team. He wasn’t expecting to be driving a Formula 1 car that weekend, but he put in a remarkable performance that was a tremendous boost to the entire organization and once again showcased his own talents behind the wheel.”
Komatsu continued; “There’s plenty of racing to go this year so I’m looking forward to seeing what else we can achieve with Kevin as we push together in the championship. Beyond that, and with Kevin’s special relationship with the team, I’m hoping we can find a way to keep working together in some capacity. We can hopefully define that in the near future, but his extensive experience in Formula 1 and knowledge of our working operations are undoubtedly of value in our on-going growth and development.”
Kevin Magnussen stated: “I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team – I’m proud to have raced for such a great team of people these last few years. In particular I’d like to thank Gene Haas for his commitment to me, notably in bringing me back once again in 2022 when I thought, at that time at least, my time in Formula 1 had ended. I’ve enjoyed some great moments with this team – memories I’ll never forget. While I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my racing career, I remain fully focused on giving everything I’ve got for the rest of 2024 with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.”
