F1: Magnussen set to leave McLaren

Andrew Lewin 16/10/2015 at 08:5416/10/2015 at 13:52

Kevin Magnussen is set to leave McLaren at the end of the season having failed to secure a race seat with the team.

The 23-year-old Dane raced for McLaren in 2014 but was demoted to the position of test and reserve driver this year as Jenson Button was retained alongside the incoming Fernando Alonso. While Magnussen said he was willing to wait for a year, he told F1i in August he was "patiently waiting for McLaren" to decide its line-up before he could push on with his own plans.

Ahead of the Russian Grand Prix Button was confirmed as remaining with McLaren for 2016, ultimately closing off the potential of a race seat for Magnussen, who admitted to F1i in a previous interview he would not stay at the team if he is unable to race.

“I wouldn’t say it surprised me [to be approached by other teams]," he said. "I obviously hope that I can continue my career with McLaren but that might not be possible and if it isn’t possible then I need to continue racing. I’m a racing driver and I need to race, that’s what I do. McLaren will understand and help me continue my career if there isn’t a space at McLaren. So I feel quite positive about my future.”

F1i understands the only F1 team Magnussen is in talks with is Lotus over potentially replacing Romain Grosjean. However, his chances of securing a seat will be increased if Renault completes its takeover of the team.

Magnussen has not been present at a race for McLaren since the Italian Grand Prix having broken his hand in a cycling incident in September.

McLaren is facing the headache of what to do with test and development driver Stoffel Vandoorne, who won the GP2 championship in Russia last weekend and therefore cannot race again in GP2 in 2016.

I want to say thank you to my friends at @McLarenF1. There are a lot of great people there. #GoodLuckGuys
— Kevin Magnussen (@KevinMagnussen) October 16, 2015