Kevin Magnussen

Haas F1 Team has signed Kevin Magnussen to drive alongside Mick Schumacher in the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship in a multi-year contract agreement ...

“Naturally, I also want to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for the chance to resume my Formula 1 career – I know just how competitive they both are and how keen they are to return to competing week in and week out. Kevin’s immediate availability means we can tap into him as a resource for pre-season testing alongside both Mick Schumacher and Pietro Fittipaldi. Pietro’s going to be first in this week with half a day’s running at the test on Thursday – that’s a great opportunity for him, with Mick and Kevin doing the rest ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.” Steiner continued; “Kevin was a key component in our previous successes – not least when we both scored our best finishes in Formula 1 back in 2018. I really have to say thank you to both Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing for releasing me promptly – both are great organizations. I’ve been briefed as much as possible on the development of the VF-22 and the potential in the package. Magnussen continued to prove his racing pedigree throughout 2021.

There are a number of drivers who you feel have had their time in F1. It's not to say they're not good, or wouldn't be valuable to certain teams, but when they ...

But he will still have a lot to offer both categories in the future, and hopefully his racing enjoyment of the last 12 months will prompt him to return at some stage. He could quite easily do a couple of years with a more competitive Haas and gain a move to an even more attractive seat, or take advantage of F1’s new era to build something with the American team as it emerges from its latest crisis. So Magnussen waited for a chance that never came and eventually had to head to a Renault team that was very much in the rebuilding phase. I must admit, when I sat down with Magnussen in Bahrain at the end of 2020 and discussed his move to Ganassi, I genuinely sensed a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Things like the seat, procedures and equipment are all easier to adapt to with a driver who spent four of the past five years racing for Haas. His first year at McLaren started so brilliantly in Melbourne and he delivered some very solid drives as a rookie in a team with huge expectations, but not the car performance to match.

He replaces Nikita Mazepin, whose contract was terminated amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Naturally, I also want to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for the chance to resume my Formula 1 career—I know just how competitive they both are and how keen they are to return to competing week in and week out. “I was obviously very surprised but equally very excited to receive the call from Haas F1 Team,” Magnussen said in the team’s press release. Kevin’s immediate availability means we can tap into him as a resource for preseason testing alongside both Mick Schumacher and Pietro Fittipaldi. Pietro’s going to be first in this week with half a day’s running at the test on Thursday—that’s a great opportunity for him, with Mick and Kevin doing the rest ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.”

Magnussen signed a multi-year contract and will drive the new Haas car for the first time on Friday in F1's test at Bahrain.

I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car in Bahrain.” Magnussen has 119 career F1 starts with McLaren, Renault and then Haas from 2017 to 2020. I’ve been briefed as much as possible on the development of the VF-22 and the potential in the package. “Kevin was a key component in our previous successes. “I was obviously very surprised but equally very excited to receive the call from Haas F1 Team,” Magnussen said. Magnussen was also slated to drive for Peugeot when its World Endurance Championship team began competition.

Kevin Magnussen said a Formula One return felt impossible until Haas boss Guenther Steiner asked him to come back as Nikita Mazepin's replacement.

When he asked me straight away I just said yes, then you know, these obstacles became quite clear that I had contracts with other teams, all these thoughts about do I need this, but I felt the first initial feeling I had when Gunther called was so telling." It's also a way of coping, there's no reason to say I want to go back, you get asked a lot and I got tired of those questions so it's easier to deal with it if you say I'm looking forward and I've moved on, but then when you get an opportunity you take it." "Then after I then thought about it!

Kevin Magnussen has completed a stunning return to Formula One with former team Haas as Nikita Mazepin's replacement.

"I was obviously very surprised but equally very excited to receive the call from Haas F1 Team," Magnussen said in a statement. Kevin's immediate availability means we can tap into him as a resource for preseason testing alongside both Mick Schumacher and Pietro Fittipaldi. "I'm delighted to welcome Kevin Magnussen back to Haas F1 Team," Steiner said in a statement.