Kevin Magnussen is not closing any options for his future, which includes a role at Haas, as Esteban Ocon is firm to test in Abu Dhabi.
The announcement from Sauber-Audi about taking Gabriel Bortoleto for 2025 F1 season, set the full grid for next year, ruling out any signing bar any unforced changes. With no contract at hand, Haas’ Magnussen was keeping hopes until the last moment.
He noted about talks with Andreas Seidl when he was at the helm of Sauber, but had nothing with Mattia Binotto. The Italian revealed Bortoleto and Valtteri Bottas as the two leading names he was in talks with, where he eventually opted for the F1 rookie.
Magnussen, meanwhile, insists that it is not the time to decide his future and that there’s plenty of time left at hand. And he is not ruling out roles at Haas as well albeit not reserve but maybe something else, which likely could be some kind of testing role which Ayao Komatsu hinted on.
“I think probably right now I am not ready to decide,” said Magnussen to media. “That’s [staying with Haas in a non-racing role] also an option. There is a good mix of options for my future, but there is no reason to commit right now, and we will see where things go.
“I don’t think there is no reason to say no to anything, as I said, I don’t need to commit so it is good to just have all the options on the table. I guess so, but I don’t want to sit around anywhere [as a reserve],” summed up Magnussen, as Komatsu noted about using the Dane as a reference for youngster when Toyota helps Haas with TPC days from 2025 onward.
“We can do up to 20 days (of TPC) next year, but current race drivers, the mileage you can put in is limited to 1,000 kilometres. We’re going to do TPC in January before the season starts with our new race drivers,” said Komatsu. “I expect most of those mileage is basically used up by the end of January with Esteban and Ollie.
“But when we do TPC in season, that’s much more for young driver development and then to have reference with somebody like Kevin, especially the way he’s driving now, he can provide a proper reference. Also the simulator in Banbury, we are installing it. When he was at McLaren, before he actually became a F1 race driver, he was very highly-rated at McLaren as a simulator driver and that’s something where he can contribute as well.
“So there’s many ways we can use Kevin. And also, he can be a reserve driver in some circuits, not everywhere, but again, look at how strong he’s performing. We are openly discussing and then trying to find out something hopefully soon. He’s a family man, he doesn’t want to do 24 races anyway so certainly he doesn’t want to be at the racing circuit 24 times when he’s not driving.
“So again, that’s the thing, Europe is not a problem – but we’re looking at all the aspects,” summed up Komatsu, who confirmed Esteban Ocon to be driving in Abu Dhabi for Haas after Alpine allowed him for an early release to test with his team for 2025 season.
He will get one day to get himself known to the team and also get the first taste of the new car plus the Ferrari power unit. “That [Abu Dhabi] will be the first time for Esteban to drive our car,” said Komatsu. “Which is important, because obviously regulations are stable.
“So next year’s car is an evolution of this car. So at least it’s good that he tastes this car before January or as soon as possible, to see what our car is like, strength and weakness. And then if he has input, we can still work on it, during the development,” summed up Komatsu, who is likely to release Nico Hulkenberg to drive for Sauber in Abu Dhabi.
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