Haas driver Kevin Magnussen has disclosed he is an “active participant” in the 2025 Formula 1 market and remains “in contention” to land one of the remaining seats.
Magnussen’s contract with Haas will expire once this season concludes and he has expressed in previous weeks that he harbours aspirations to remain with the side.
But while team-mate Nico Hulkenberg will leave to move to Sauber, Magnussen’s seat isn’t secure as Haas is known to be courting Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon.
The Dane, who is now in his seventh term with Haas split across two spells, reiterated that he desires to stick with the American squad, but he has options elsewhere.
Alpine is guaranteed to have a vacant spot alongside Pierre Gasly as Ocon will depart, while Sauber is still to announce who will partner with Hulkenberg next season.
“I am an active participant, I’m in contention for a few of the seats,” Magnussen divulged. “I think that’s great, and it’s all very open at the moment.
“I think there’s good chances for the established guys to end up in a seat anyway.
“I think from my perspective, I feel like there’s a lot of potential in this team.
“It feels like there’s always been potential showing at times, the highs have been very high, you look back at the best races we’ve done, the best races in any year, it’s been fairly good.
“There’s never been a podium here though, and there’s never been that season where it’s just all worked out and consistency has been good.
“It feels like there’s the potential and you see the talent within the team and almost like some unfulfilled potential, I would think that’s quite fulfilling to be part of that.”
However, Magnussen has expressed that he also retains a wish to explore other racing disciplines in his career rather than continue to peddle around in F1’s midfield.
“But on the other hand it’s also been a long journey, I’ve been in the midfield pretty much every year I’ve been in Formula 1, and I’m 31 years old,” he continued.
“I think I’m starting to also think that if I finished my motorsport career having just done F1 in the midfield, that kind of feels maybe empty in some ways also.
“I watch some of those races, Le Mans, Indy 500, and I see the guys that win that, they look bloody happy you know, and I think luckily there’s a great outside of Formula 1 also.
“I’ve been part of it a few times when I wasn’t in Formula 1, and it’s a great life, and it’s pulling a little bit I’d say.”
Magnussen, who spent a season not competing in F1 in 2021, has highlighted how the record calendar length in place now has made him ponder whether to continue.
“When I think about my future it’s not like if I’m not in F1 I feel like it’s going to be a bad life at all,” he commented.
“I feel a little bit the opposite, there’s a big cost to being in Formula 1 and sometimes I question whether it’s worth it because it’s 24 races, being a family man it’s a high cost.
“It’s not just those 24 races it’s a lot of stuff as well and it just fills your year 100% and it’s not easy to do anything else.
“And I’m passionate about a lot of things, especially in motorsport but also outside of motorsport.
“The dream has always been to succeed in Formula 1, to win races and championships in Formula 1, but after 10 years in the sport and not really getting there it’s maybe it’s getting old.”
Magnussen has proclaimed that he has appreciated Haas boss Ayao Komatsu’s honest approach to telling Magnussen that he is speaking with drivers outside Haas.
“What I value the most – I don’t know, I’m not part of his everyday handling of it – of course I talk about my own potential future with the team and what I value the most is he is very open, very honest, I feel like I can trust him,” Magnussen said regarding how Komatsu is handling things.
“He’s not hiding the fact he’s talking to other drivers as well, he’s been open about that and I appreciate that a lot more.
“I’ve had team bosses in the past who weren’t honest who were telling me yes and I don’t appreciate that, and I think it’s part of the game.
“I’m not surprised he’s talking to other drivers, he wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t, I appreciate his openness and let’s see what happens.”
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