Magnussen graduated to Formula 1 with McLaren in 2014, after winning the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, which include a debut podium finish in finishing second place at that seasons Australian Grand Prix. But, was dropped back to a reserve driver role for the 2015 season as the team opted to retain Jenson Button to partner the returning Fernando Alonso.
Magnussen had hoped to reclaim a McLaren race seat for 2016 season. However, both Button and Alonso are retain for 2016. With Magnussen wanted to race next year, McLaren had no option to let Magnussen go and leave Magnussen to find a drive for 2016.
In my opinion, this is not a big surprise this news has happen. I do believe its the right time for Kevin Magnussen to leave McLaren. He did a great job at McLaren in 2014, which include a fantastic job finishing in second place finish in his debut race at Melbourne, and he was as fast in some races as his much experience team-mate Jenson Button. Just, bad luck for him to lose his job at McLaren for 2015 to two World Champions at the team. And now Magnussen is leaving McLaren at the end of the season. What's next for Magnussen?
There is still four drives left for the 2016 season, with one at the new Haas team, two at Manor, and one at Lotus/Renault. It will not be at Haas, as former Sauber driver Esteban Gutiérrez will be officially confirmed before the Mexico Grand Prix in late October. Two at Manor, will go down to pay drivers to pay the new Mercedes Power-Units they will have next season, which Magnussen is not a pay driver if I recall. So, his only option would be getting a drive at Lotus/Renault next season that Romain Grosjean has just vacated, he would need to battle it out between Jolyon Palmer and Jean-Éric Vergne for that seat at Lotus.
Magnussen better bet would be get a test-drive and Friday morning Practice sessions at a middle of the grid team and get full time seat in 2017, when the F1 driver market will open out with more drives available then in 2016. Similar to 2011 when Nico Hülkenberg lost his drive at Williams, he was later confirmed as Force India's reserve driver for the 2011 season which did include Friday morning Practice sessions for most of the season, then in 2012 he was promoted as one of their drivers. That may be the better bet for Magnussen.
New challenge ahead for Kevin Magnussen in 2016, but where?
End of post for now, new post soon. Bye.
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