Before losing his seat to Nikita Mazepin, Kevin Magnussen was running with Haas until the end of 2020.
see photosKevin Magnussen returns to his former F1 team ahead of 2022 season
Kevin Magnussen is set to make a surprise return to Formula 1 after Haas terminated Russian driver Nikita Mazepin’s contract with the team after a series of unfortunate events. The Danish racing driver has signed a multi-year contract with the American organization, and his experience with the team and in Formula 1 will come in handy in developing the VF-22 car as well as mentor Mick Schumacher, whose Still have limited experience. Magnussen in F1 ran for the Haas F1 team until the end of the 2020 season, before he and his teammate Romain Grosjean lost their seats for the 2021 season to Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher.
Read also: Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen to leave Haas F1 team at the end of 2020
This last minute signing comes on the back of the team’s decision to terminate its contract with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and his sponsor Uralkali. Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Haas found himself under tremendous pressure from fans to terminate his contract with Uralkali, a brand partly owned by Nikita’s father, Dmitry Mazepin.
Read also: F1: Haas drops Uralkali branding and Russian-flag themed livery
The Haas F1 team dropped the Uralkali branding and wore a plain white livery on the final day of the first pre-season test
Read also: Russian and Belarusian drivers can compete in F1 without a national flag
The Uralkali sponsorship was a driving factor behind Nikita Mazepin’s contract with the American team, as the team found itself short of funds for the development of its 2022 car. Even though the FIA concluded allowing Russian and Belarusian drivers to compete in F1 under a neutral flag, Motorsport UK banned Russian and Belarusian drivers from competing in motor sporting events in the country, including the British GP. These incidents also included the threat that other countries could join the UK in banning Russian drivers, making it unfair for Haas to continue his contract with Mazepin.
Read also: Mazepin to miss British GP as Motorsport UK bans Russian license holders from their events
Haas already had limited options to fill his seat due to the ongoing pre-season Test and the season starting in less than a fortnight. Among the frontrunners for the seat were Antonio Giovinazzi, who recently lost his F1 seat at Alfa Romeo to Guanyue Zhou, and Nico Hulkenberg, who was favored by Haas team principal Guenther Steiner over the years. But it was not a move. come to fruition.
Read also: Alfa Romeo announces Guanyue Zhou as first Chinese F1 driver
Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas F1 Team’s reserve driver
Haas also considered his reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi for the drive – who then stood in for the injured Grosjean. horrific accident in bahrain in 2020 – But it was not the most creative choice for the team due to the driver’s rare experience behind the wheel of an F1 car.
Read also: F1: Pietro Fittipaldi to fill in for Romain Grosjean for second Bahrain race
Kevin Magnussen was also a potential option for the US team, given the short period before the start of the season. The team needed to hire a driver who could get up to speed quickly with the car and the team, and Kevin’s history with the team meant it was half the job for him, as he was already working on the team and the environment. Knew well.
Another important factor in hiring Magnussen was his availability. Hulkenberg is a reserve driver for the Aston Martin F1 team and it would have been a difficult process for Haas to release Aston Martin from contract in time to drive in the second pre-season test, while the Giovinazzi Dragon/Penske Autosport Formula E team, and Negotiating for his release would have been a lengthy process. Magnussen, on the other hand, was immediately released from his contracts with Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing, meaning he could drive the VF-22 at the end of the second pre-season test this week.
Kevin Magnussen in Haas F1 car
Team Principal Genther Steiner said: “I am delighted to welcome Kevin Magnussen back to the Haas F1 team. When looking for a driver who can bring value to the team, mentioning the wealth of Formula 1 experience To not, was a direct decision for Kevin. Us. Kevin’s immediate availability means we can use him as a resource for pre-season testing with both Mick Schumacher and Pietro Fittipaldi.”
Magnussen said: “I was obviously very surprised but equally excited to receive the call from the Haas F1 team. I was looking in a different direction about my commitments to 2022, but to compete in Formula 1. The opportunity to return to and with a team I knew very well was just so fascinating. I really have to say thank you to both Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing for releasing me right away – both are great organizations.”
Mick Schumacher to partner with Kevin Magnussen in Hasso
0 notes
His success in racing sports cars last year showed the world that he was still fast, and his experience will be used to develop their VF-22 car for the team which is based on the new rules that came out this year. He can also be a great mentor to his inexperienced teammate Mick Schumacher, and the pairing could help the team return to the top of the midfield.
for the latest auto news And WaitFollow carandbike.com Twitter, Facebookand ours. subscribe to youtube Channel.