McLaren looks likely to confirm that it will partner rookie Kevin Magnussen with Jenson Button in 2014, leaving Sergio Perez without a seat.
The team are yet to make a final decision, but in recent weeks things have swung in Magnussen’s favour following a lacklustre performance from Perez in Abu Dhabi.
The Mexican’s pace was publicly described as “disappointing” by team principal Martin Whitmarsh after the race. Whilst Button finished ten seconds further back, it was a good recovery considering he was last by the second lap after contact forced him to stop early for a new front-nose.
Race simulations by McLaren suggest Button would have finished much further up than Perez’s ninth had he not been required to make the unscheduled stop.
McLaren’s management are therefore keen to promote 21-year-old Magnussen who’s shown promising talent during tests for the team and recently won the Renault Formula 3.5 championship in dominant fashion.
Lining Magnussen up against Button is part of a wider plan for 2015 when McLaren will re-unite with Honda. The team are working hard to lure Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso back to eventually replace Button who they don’t consider as one of the best, but the best of the rest behind Sebastian Vettel, Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
The Dane says he’s ready for Formula 1 and McLaren believe he is too. No final decision has been made and Perez could remain, but team sources and those within the paddock suggest Magnussen is edging ahead in the race for the second seat.
