Insider: F1 exit very likely for Magnussen
Oct.20 - Another F1 insider has chimed in to consider Kevin Magnussen's next move.
On Monday, former McLaren communications director Matt Bishop told us that he thought the Danish driver would complete a "brilliant lineup" alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
Magnussen, 28, appears likely to be ousted at Haas for 2021, with the small American team apparently speeding towards a potential Mick Schumacher-Nikita Mazepin lineup.
Peter Nygaard, the F1 correspondent for Denmark's BT newspaper, said: "I am 99.9 percent sure that Kevin Magnussen's Formula 1 career will end with the season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 13.
"Haas will replace both Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, and the Dane has no realistic opportunities elsewhere in the Formula 1 field of 2021."
Indeed, Nygaard said even backmarker Williams is unlikely to rescue Magnussen's career.
"They have new owners and that may open up new opportunities, but the new owners know full well that 2021 will be a transition season that they just have to survive before the whole new set of rules for 2022.
"Sporting considerations are therefore likely to be behind economic considerations, and it would take way too much money to squeeze George Russell, who is associated with the Mercedes engine deal, and Nicolas Latifi, whose father has given the team huge sums of money, out of the field's worst team.
"Dreaming of a seat at AlphaTauri and Red Bull is sadly unrealistic," he insisted.
"So I can see Kevin Magnussen's Formula 1 career becoming another victim of the corona crisis. It will be exciting to see where he continues his career, but he told me at the Nurburgring that he will not settle for a reserve driver job.
"He will race and win in 2021."
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If Haas drops Magnussen to favour 2 rookies, they are in my book completely mental and it would be a disgrace to the F1 mission - which is to have the worlds best racing drivers in the most advanced racing cars! This would be the start of Haas “doing a Williams” and would put them in a (even more) downward spiral for years to come. If they are serious about this move, they might as well cancel their signature on the Concorde agreement and leave the sport!
I am gutted by the way “paid drivers” are taking over the sport, I mean, Nikita Mazepin!!! Come on man, that is a joke from a sporting perspective. At least keep/sign 1 established driver in the team. If they are to keep 1 driver, Magnussen is the obvious choice. If they want a brand new line up, sign Perez or Hulkenberg and pair with Mick Schumacher.
Perez/Schumacher would be a great pairing and good for F1 in the US, but our sport is not racing, it's a business. It is now all about the money. Sad. Several great racers have initially been "paid drivers", Mazepin is not one of them.
Great news for Formula 1! Haas at this moments have the worst drivers in the grid. Of course they also have a car that is only capable of fighting with the Williams in the bottom of the field, but at least new drivers would be the beginning of a new chapter for the team.
There are at least five, maybe seven, worse drivers than MAG and GRO. Put a MB engine in the Haas and they would be fighting in the crowded midfield with podium potential. More power, my friend, more power.
For HAAS a North American Team I think it would make much more sense to recruit Perez. He's quick, experienced, comes with money and has a huge Mexican following. Pairing him with Hulkenberg also makes great sense. Schumacher should go to Alpha Romeo as it's a baby Ferrari.
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