Kevin Magnussen reflected on his Formula 1 legacy with Haas ahead of his departure from a team that “feels like family.”
With Haas signing Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon for 2025 and beyond, Magnussen’s time with the squad and F1 is seemingly at an end with the conclusion of this year’s campaign.
All but two of Magnussen’s nine full seasons in F1 have been with Haas and the Dane’s F1 legacy is entwined with the plucky David among Grand Prix Goliaths.
Both share a fighting spirit and it’s fitting that after Magnussen’s previous chapter with Haas came to an end in 2020, he was brought back to the fold for three further seasons in 2022.
Despite moving onto a BMW Hypercar drive next year, there’s a desire between Haas and Magnussen to continue their relationship.
F1’s Viking spoke exclusively with Motorsport Week ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix to reflect on his time with Haas.
“We’re certainly not ending this on bad terms, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I feel very much part of the team. I think I’ll feel part of the team next year.
“No matter what happens, it feels like my team.
“I don’t know how many years I’ve been here, seven or eight years. Seven seasons.
“So it’s over an eight-year period, so it’s a big part of my life.
“It’s almost a third of my life, which is crazy. So of course it feels like family.”
Haas deserves to move forward, says Magnussen
Magnussen leaves Haas with the team on an upward trajectory.
It has signed a GP winner and promising young star to its driver line-up and teamed up with automotive giant Toyota to bolster its technical operation.
Moreover, finishing seventh in the Constructor’s standings with 58 points was Haas’ best return since 2018.
Still, despite being a part of a successful campaign and Haas building toward a brighter future, Magnussen said “It’s hard to take credit for any of it, but I think it’s nice that we have seemed to go upwards towards something better.
“If the team is doing well next year, then certainly I’ve been a part of that,” he added.
“So have so many other people. It’s hard to feel proud of that.
“I think it’s something that the people in this team have deserved for many years.
“To see this kind of improvement, I think if you go back to the years, you can see the potential in us.
“We’ve always had great highs. There’s too many lows, too much up and down.
“I think those highs, they don’t come without some great talent in this team.
“There are some very talented people in this team who deserve to have better opportunities.
“I think this team is going in a direction where they can get those opportunities.”
READ MORE – Exclusive: Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg reflect on prosperous Haas F1 partnership
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