F1 information: What comes subsequent 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 workforce in 2025. In a press release 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 wish to thank Kevin for every little thing he’s given us as a workforce – each on and off the observe. He’s actually been a bedrock of our driver line-up over time. Nobody’s pushed extra races for us and we’ve had some memorable highlights collectively – not least a outstanding fifth place end on the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022 when Kevin returned to begin his second spell with the workforce,” acknowledged Komatsu. “He wasn’t anticipating to be driving a Formula 1 automotive that weekend, however he put in a outstanding efficiency that was an amazing increase to your entire group and as soon as once more showcased his personal skills behind the wheel.”

Magnussen thanked your entire group within the assertion, beginning with workforce proprietor Gene Haas

“I’d like to increase my because of everybody at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team – I’m proud to have raced for such an amazing workforce of individuals these previous few years. In specific I’d wish to thank Gene Haas for his dedication to me, notably in bringing me again as soon as once more in 2022 after I thought, at the moment a minimum of, my time in Formula 1 had ended,” acknowledged Magnussen. “I’ve loved some nice moments with this workforce – reminiscences I’ll always remember. While I’m trying ahead to the following chapter of my racing profession, I stay absolutely centered on giving every little thing I’ve obtained for the remainder of 2024 with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.”

While the 2 sides are dedicated to ending on a optimistic word, what comes subsequent for each Magnussen and Haas? And is their relationship actually over?

Who will drive alongside Oliver Bearman?

Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Before Thursday’s announcement, Haas had already confirmed one among their two drivers for the 2025 marketing campaign, saying earlier this month that younger Oliver Bearman can be in a seat at Haas subsequent 12 months on a “multi-year” contract.

Bearman presently competes for Prema Racing in F2 and is a reserve for each Ferrari and Haas. The younger British driver confirmed his mettle earlier this 12 months by stepping in for Carlos Sainz Jr. when an appendectomy sidelined him on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. With only one hour of follow time in Jeddah underneath 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 consequence has Bearman sitting 14th within the F1 Drivers’ Championship standings.

With Haas turning to a rookie for one among their seats, it’s anticipated {that a} driver with extra expertise will likely be within the different spot. Until Thursday’s announcement, Magnussen appeared a contender for that function, 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 function?

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

Ocon could seem 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 workforce rebranded from the Renault flag, and it stays Ocon’s solely F1 win.

If, nevertheless, Ocon will not be an choice for the workforce 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 can be becoming a member of the workforce subsequent 12 months 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 workforce nonetheless has one other seat obtainable — it made a transfer for Bottas extra doubtless.

With his personal years of expertise and resume of race wins, Bottas is likely to be a super candidate to drive alongside Bearman subsequent season.

What comes subsequent for Magnussen?

Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images

This is the following query: What comes subsequent for Magnussen himself?

At the second there are six spots obtainable for subsequent season, however solely 5 potential choices for Magnussen. These six groups presently have a seat obtainable for subsequent 12 months: Haas, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, Sauber, Williams, Mercedes, and Alpine.

Haas is now out of that blend for Magnussen.

We can doubtless rule VCARB and Mercedes out as nicely. Both groups have drivers of their applications which can be doubtless choices, and at VCARB they nonetheless may resolve to retain Daniel Ricciardo for subsequent season. Beyond Ricciardo for VCARB, the workforce may promote Liam Lawson to that seat.

Over at Mercedes, there’s each expectation that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will likely be promoted to the workforce subsequent to George Russell, though Carlos Sainz Jr. has turn out to be extra of an choice for the workforce in latest 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 latest weeks — together with outqualifying Sergio Pérez on a number of events — there’s a robust indication that the workforce will go in a distinct route. Williams has been linked with each Bottas and Sainz in latest weeks, and will even be a spot for Antonelli ought to Mercedes resolve to take their time with the younger driver.

Alpine has some inner choices as nicely, together with each Mick Schumacher and Jack Doohan. Those two drivers performed latest testing for the workforce, at Paul Ricard Circuit in France, and Doohan was additionally within the A522 this week at Silverstone. The French-based workforce has additionally made a play for Sainz lately, one other indication that they’ve choices obtainable to them in the intervening time.

Could Sauber be a touchdown spot for him? When the 12 months 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 can be headed to the workforce for subsequent 12 months.

But that transfer has but to materialize, and with Sauber signing Hülkenberg, may they add his present teammate for subsequent 12 months?

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

“Obviously, it’s not my accountability and never my choice in any respect. But Kevin’s been additionally very constant this 12 months,” began Hülkenberg.

“There have been just a few moments in classes the place actually small particulars made a distinction between him and myself and, typically on TV, the result or the consequence appears to be like large however, really, it’s actually small stuff from after I have a look at it, and clearly I’ve extra entry to knowledge and see precisely what occurred on his aspect.

“So I feel he’s doing a strong job. I feel he’s nonetheless a candidate, very a lot, for Haas or possibly another groups.”

That can be a captivating storyline: The two present Haas drivers transferring over to Sauber for subsequent 12 months.

That may make Sauber the doubtless choice for Magnussen, ought to he keep in F1. But the Danish driver could 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 crammed in for an injured Felix Rosenqvist.

Endurance racing can also be a probable 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 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 — successful 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 couple of seat for that 12 months.

Speaking of Haas, may he return to the workforce in some capability subsequent 12 months?

Komatsu didn’t rule that out.

In the workforce’s assertion Thursday, the Haas Team Principal not solely talked concerning the work left to be finished this 12 months however opened the door to Magnussen serving the workforce in some capability subsequent season. “There’s loads of racing to go this 12 months so I’m trying ahead to seeing what else we will obtain with Kevin as we push collectively within the championship. Beyond that, and with Kevin’s particular relationship with the workforce, I’m hoping we will discover a technique to preserve working collectively in some capability,” mentioned Komatsu. “We can hopefully outline that within the close to future, however his intensive expertise in Formula 1 and data of our working operations are undoubtedly of worth in our on-going development and growth.”

Could the workforce carve out some form of function 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 choice then competing elsewhere whereas serving to Haas in “some capability” is likely to be Magnussen’s future.

But for now, his current contains serving to Haas this 12 months, of their struggle with VCARB for sixth within the F1 Constructors’ Championship.