In a candid revelation, Kevin Magnussen has confirmed what Formula 1 fans and insiders have been speculating – the Danish driver did indeed hold talks about joining Sauber for the 2025 season. With Haas officially cutting him loose and Sauber turning to a fresh lineup, Magnussen now faces a crossroads in his racing career.
Earlier this year, while Andreas Seidl still commanded the Sauber ship, Magnussen emerged as a contender for an Audi-backed Sauber seat alongside veteran Nico Hulkenberg. However, since Mattia Binotto took over Sauber’s reins this summer, the door seems to have closed on Magnussen’s chance of joining the Audi F1 project, leaving him without a full-time F1 seat for next season.
“When Seidl was there, I had heard from them,” Magnussen admitted, detailing the short-lived opportunity. “But I haven’t heard from them since.”
With Sauber announcing Formula 2 star Gabriel Bortoleto as Hulkenberg’s new teammate for 2025, Magnussen’s slim hopes of staying on the grid have all but faded. As Haas moves forward with Esteban Ocon and promising young talent Oliver Bearman, the team is preparing for a bold new chapter without the Danish driver who’s been part of its setup since 2022.
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu hinted that the team might retain Magnussen in a different capacity, but there’s no assurance of what this would entail. “That’s also an option,” Magnussen said. “There’s no reason to commit right now, though. We’ll see where things go.”
Magnussen, who has expressed an openness to exploring racing opportunities beyond Formula 1, seems determined to keep his options wide open. “I don’t think there’s any reason to say no to anything either,” he shared, underscoring his strategic stance.
Reflecting on the recent improvements he’s made on track, largely due to a critical adjustment in the brakes of the Haas VF-24, Magnussen openly lamented that his resurgence may have come too late to save his spot. “I would have liked to have that change earlier in the year, that’s for sure.”
With his future in F1 hanging by a thread, Magnussen is left considering a career beyond the grid, or possibly a return in a reserve or test role with Haas. What comes next for the Danish driver remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Kevin Magnussen isn’t leaving the racing world without a fight.
