Magnussen makes case for Haas contract extension

Kevin Magnussen does not feel he has anything left to prove to Haas, as he bids to extend his stay with the team into next season.

The 31-year-old joined the American squad in 2017. He was dropped at the end of 2020, along with then team-mate Romain Grosjean, but was brought back into the fold after a year away from F1 to replace Nikita Mazepin, who was fired shortly before the start of the 2022 season.

With the majority of the grid out of contract heading into this year, it has been one of this most unpredictable and active driver markets in recent memory. The one-time podium finisher does not appear to be actively looking for opportunities elsewhere, with Haas remaining his preference.

However, despite being a "known quantity" to the team, Magnussen acknowledged there is a chance he ends up on the outside looking in.

"Yeah, there's a chance of that happening," he told media including RacingNews365 when asked if he was concerned he could end up being one of the drivers frozen out.

"The team [Haas] knows me very well - I'm a known quantity, so I don't think there's anything for me to prove. It's a very open driver market this time around. We'll see how it pans out.

"I've made it clear that I would love to continue here. I think the team is in a good position, where there's pretty good hope for the future - I'd love to be part of it. I don't know how long it's gonna take until we know how it's gonna go, but until then, just keep driving."

No deadline for Magnussen's future to be decided

Magnussen's future with Haas - and in F1 - was thought to be at risk before Oliver Bearman's impressive debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with the F2 driver already on Haas' radar. 

The 19-year-old Ferrari Academy member was due to complete six FP1 sessions for the team, and his points finish in place of Carlos Sainz at Ferrari did nothing to reduce the pressure on Magnussen. However, when Haas team-mate Nico Hulkenberg announced he would be moving to Stake for 2025, it appeared the Dane's immediate future would be safe. 

That sense of security was short-lived, with Zhou Guanyu emerging as the favourite to partner Bearman, who has not yet signed, but is strongly believed to be one of the team's two drivers next team. In recent weeks, it is Esteban Ocon who has become the leading contender join Haas, following his departure from Alpine.

Either way, Magnussen is not setting himself or the team a deadline for a decision to be made, adding: "I don't really have a deadline, no. I think it's still a very open driver market. It's going to be interesting to see how it pans out for everyone, but I haven't set myself any dates of anything like that, anything to stick to.

"Yeah, I guess," he replied when asked if it was the most chaotic driver market he had been a part of. "Certainly the most drivers out of contract in the same year that I've experienced."