Magnussen to leave Haas when contract expires at the end of 2024 season

Kevin Magnussen will vacate his race seat with Haas when the Dane’s contract expires at the end of the season – although boss Ayao Komatsu says he hopes they can “find a way to keep working together in some capacity”.

Magnussen is currently in his seventh season with Haas, split across two spells (2017-2020 and 2022-2024), and has scored five points to team mate Nico Hulkenberg’s 22 this season.

ANALYSIS: Bearman in, Magnussen out – so what's next for Haas?

The former McLaren and Renault driver secured a career-high ninth in the standings for Haas in 2018 when he scored points in 11 of the 21 races that season, as the American team finished a best-ever fifth in the constructors’ championship.

Just weeks after Haas announced Ollie Bearman would make his full-time racing debut with the team in 2025, and on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, they have revealed Magnussen will not be partnering him.

Sources say Esteban Ocon is favourite to join the team – though Haas have made no reference to their plans for the second seat.

“I’d like to thank Kevin for everything he’s given us as a team – both on and off the track,” said Komatsu. “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.

“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.”

READ MORE: Haas further extend long-running technical partnership with Ferrari

He added: “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.

“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.”

Should Magnussen take up such a role, it would suggest he will not continue to race in Formula 1 – however he could compete in another racing series.

“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,” said Magnussen.

READ MORE: Hulkenberg confident Haas can fight to be fifth-fastest team after ‘very encouraging’ P6 result at Silverstone

“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. 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.”