Official: Magnussen's Indycar comments 'strategic'

Oct.19 - Kevin Magnussen has dismissed reports linking him with a potential move to Indycar for 2017.

With Renault having already confirmed Nico Hulkenberg for next year, whilst admitting that Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas are also targets, it is also relevant that an extended 'option' on Magnussen's 2017 services ran out last week.

Then, reports emerged early this week that the young Dane could be in the running to switch from F1 to Indycar with Michael Andretti's team.

But Magnussen said on Twitter: "I'm a big fan of IndyCar but those are really just rumours. Nothing to it.

"I feel confident my future is in F1 and there should be no doubt I intend to stay with Renault for many years if I can," he insisted.

"Unfortunately there is nothing yet to announce regarding my future, but hopefully there will be soon. I too am getting impatient!"

A leading Danish motor racing official says he thinks Magnussen's lengthy Twitter retort is very much a strategic move.

"I can imagine it was to tell the world that he has more options, and that he is pushing to have a Renault's decision," Bo Baltzer Nielsen, a Danish automobile union official, told the Danish newspaper BT.

And F1 commentator Jens Hansen commented: "The timing is surprising because it simultaneously shows optimism but also impatience."

He said he thinks Magnussen is at least an outside chance of switching from Renault to Force India, Williams or Haas.

"The future is to some extent unclear at all four teams," said Hansen. "And Kevin has a good name with the team bosses at all of them."

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