What comes next for Kevin Magnussen and Haas?

The newest domino within the Formula 1 driver switch market has fallen.

On Thursday, Haas confirmed that Kevin Magnussen is not going to be again racing for the staff in 2025. In an announcement launched to the media, Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu praised the driving force for being a “bedrock” of the group over his tenure.

“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,” acknowledged Komatsu. “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.”

Magnussen thanked all the group within the assertion, beginning with staff proprietor Gene Haas

“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,” acknowledged Magnussen. “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.”

While the 2 sides are dedicated to ending on a constructive be aware, what comes next for each Magnussen and Haas? And is their relationship really over?

Who will drive alongside Oliver Bearman?

Before Thursday’s announcement, Haas had already confirmed one in every of their two drivers for the 2025 marketing campaign, asserting earlier this month that younger Oliver Bearman could be in a seat at Haas next yr on a “multi-year” contract.

Bearman at present competes for Prema Racing in F2 and is a reserve for each Ferrari and Haas. The younger British driver confirmed his mettle earlier this yr by stepping in for Carlos Sainz Jr. when an appendectomy sidelined him on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. With only one hour of observe time in Jeddah beneath his belt, Bearman superior to Q2 throughout qualifying, narrowly lacking out on Q3.

He began the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in P11 and completed seventh, holding off Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton down the stretch to financial institution six factors in his debut. At the second that end result has Bearman sitting 14th within the F1 Drivers’ Championship standings.

With Haas turning to a rookie for one in every of their seats, it’s anticipated {that a} driver with extra expertise shall be within the different spot. Until Thursday’s announcement, Magnussen appeared a contender for that position, given his years of expertise in each F1 and at Haas.

Now that Magnussen has been confirmed to be exiting Haas on the finish of the season, is there a favourite to land on this position?

At the second, that appears to be Esteban Ocon. Reports in current weeks have named Ocon because the probably second driver at Haas, with extra reporting indicating such an announcement was “imminent.”

Ocon could appear an fascinating alternative for Haas, however he stays one of many few drivers on the present grid to have gained a Grand Prix. This weekend marks the return of Ocon to the place the place his single F1 victory occurred, as he stormed to a victory within the Hungarian Grand Prix again in 2021. That win marked the primary win for Alpine for the reason that staff rebranded from the Renault flag, and it stays Ocon’s solely F1 win.

If, nonetheless, Ocon will not be an possibility for the staff one other veteran driver within the combine is Valtteri Bottas. Earlier this summer time Bottas was linked with a transfer to Haas, amongst different groups, as Sauber is beginning to fill out their very own driver lineup. Before the Miami Grand Prix Sauber introduced that Nico Hülkenberg could be becoming a member of the staff next yr on a “multi-year” deal, forward of Sauber changing into the Audi works operation in 2026.

While that doesn’t imply that Bottas is essentially out at Sauber — the staff nonetheless has one other seat out there — it made a transfer for Bottas extra probably.

With his personal years of expertise and resume of race wins, Bottas is perhaps a great candidate to drive alongside Bearman next season.

What comes next for Magnussen?

Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images

This is the next query: What comes next for Magnussen himself?

At the second there are six spots out there for next season, however solely 5 potential choices for Magnussen. These six groups at present have a seat out there for next yr: Haas, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, Sauber, Williams, Mercedes, and Alpine.

Haas is now out of that blend for Magnussen.

We can probably rule VCARB and Mercedes out as properly. Both groups have drivers of their packages which are probably choices, and at VCARB they nonetheless may resolve to retain Daniel Ricciardo for next season. Beyond Ricciardo for VCARB, the staff may promote Liam Lawson to that seat.

Over at Mercedes, there may be each expectation that Andrea Kimi Antonelli shall be promoted to the staff next to George Russell, though Carlos Sainz Jr. has change into extra of an possibility for the staff in current weeks, ought to Mercedes resolve to play issues a bit slower with the younger Italian driver.

That leaves Williams, Alpine, and Sauber as choices for Magnussen.

Williams has Logan Sargeant in that seat in the intervening time, and whereas the American driver has made progress in current weeks — together with outqualifying Sergio Pérez on a number of events — there’s a robust indication that the staff will go in a distinct route. Williams has been linked with each Bottas and Sainz in current weeks, and may even be a spot for Antonelli ought to Mercedes resolve to take their time with the younger driver.

Alpine has some inner choices as properly, together with each Mick Sauber and Jack Doohan. Those two drivers carried out current testing for the staff, at Paul Ricard Circuit in France, and Doohan was additionally within the A522 this week at Silverstone. The French-based staff has additionally made a play for Sainz just lately, one other indication that they’ve choices out there to them in the intervening time.

Could Sauber be a touchdown spot for him? When the yr started there was each perception within the paddock that given Audi’s hyperlinks with Carlos Sainz Sr., who competes for Audi in rally automotive racing, that his son could be headed to the staff for next yr.

But that transfer has but to materialize, and with Sauber signing Hülkenberg, may they add his present teammate for next yr?

The two drivers have labored properly collectively this season — most notably Magnussen, who on a number of events has performed his staff position to perfection in aiding Hülkenberg with scoring factors — and the German driver praised his teammate earlier this season.

“Obviously, it’s not my responsibility and not my decision at all. But Kevin’s been also very consistent this year,” began Hülkenberg.

“There had been a number of moments in periods the place actually small particulars made a distinction between him and myself and, usually on TV, the end result or the end result seems huge however, really, it’s actually small stuff from once I have a look at it, and clearly I’ve extra entry to information and see precisely what occurred on his facet.

“So I think he’s doing a solid job. I think he’s still a candidate, very much, for Haas or maybe some other teams.”

That could be an interesting storyline: The two present Haas drivers shifting over to Sauber for next yr.

That may make Sauber the probably possibility for Magnussen, ought to he keep in F1. But the Danish driver might have driving choices outdoors F1. He has pushed in IndyCar earlier than, driving for Arrow McLaren again in 2021 on the Grand Prix of Road America the place he stuffed in for an injured Felix Rosenqvist.

Endurance racing can be a possible vacation spot for Magnussen. His father Jan Magnussen was not solely a F1 driver, however a notable endurance driver. The elder Magnussen gained the 24 Hours of Le Mans 4 instances, and whereas he stopped competing in that occasion following the 2019 season he drove within the IMSA — a North American endurance racing sequence — as just lately as final season.

During his hiatus from F1, the youthful Magnussen drove within the IMSA in each 2021 and 2022. He completed seventh within the sequence in 2021 — profitable the Detroit Sports Car Classic alongside Renger van der Zande at Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing — and began the 2022 season with a sixth-place end on the 24 Hours of Daytona.

That is when Haas known as a few seat for that yr.

Speaking of Haas, may he return to the staff in some capability next yr?

Komatsu didn’t rule that out.

In the staff’s assertion Thursday, the Haas Team Principal not solely talked concerning the work left to be achieved this yr however opened the door to Magnussen serving the staff in some capability next season. “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,” mentioned Komatsu. “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.”

Could the staff carve out some kind of position for him, whereas permitting Magnussen to compete in one other sequence as a driver? If a seat on the present grid — maybe at Sauber — will not be an possibility then competing elsewhere whereas serving to Haas in “some capacity” is perhaps Magnussen’s future.

But for now, his current contains serving to Haas this yr, of their battle with VCARB for sixth within the F1 Constructors’ Championship.