20 June 2024 , 06:00
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Kevin Magnussen remains a "serious contender" for a race seat with Haas next year - despite the American team considering other candidates.
Haas have yet to confirm either of their 2025 drivers, though British teenager Oliver Bearman is expected to land the seat vacated by Nico Hulkenberg, who is leaving for Sauber. No decision has been made yet, though, regarding Magnussen's future.
The Dane scored just three points last year and has only one to his name so far this term. He has been out-performed in that regard by Hulkenberg, but he has proven himself a team player in recent months by compromising his own races to help his team-mate to score.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu has been impressed with Magnussen's contributions in that regard. And, speaking to Mirror Sport, the 48-year-old said the Dane could yet win a new contract despite other high-profile drivers being linked with the vacancy.
Komatsu said: "He's in contention for sure. I don't want to say how many drivers we're talking to but, certainly, Kevin is a serious contender for next year because he's been great. Especially since Nico came, he has stepped up another notch and this year as a team player and understanding what he needs to do to bring this team forward. He's been working really hard and I'm really grateful for that."
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The driver market has been extremely active so far this year - unsurprising, considering three-quarters of the grid came into the season with less than 12 months remaining on their contracts. Some huge moves have been made already, most notable Lewis Hamilton's decision to quit Mercedes and link up with Ferrari next term.
That leaves Carlos Sainz without a seat for next season, though Haas is a less likely destination for the Spaniard than Williams or Sauber. Esteban Ocon is leaving Alpine and is more likely to make the switch, should Komatsu eventually decide to replace Magnussen, while Valtteri Bottas is also a strong contender with Sauber looking for external options to partner Hulkenberg.
Ayao Komatsu will decide Kevin Magnussen's F1 future (Getty Images)The German has been impressive since returning to the F1 grid with Haas and Komatsu admits losing him is a blow. He said: "[Hulkenberg] has been really good. He said it in the press openly that I tried to keep him. I won't go into the reason why we couldn't come to an agreement, but certainly it wasn't a lack of will from both sides. It's just the circumstances.
"Sometimes, time away from F1 will do you good. You can refocus and understand what you actually had before, what you lost and what you want in your life. I feel both when both Kevin and Nico came back - okay, I didn't know Nico before he came to Haas, but I knew Kevin before and after - and his focus was clearly so much better.
"I expect it was the same case with Nico. In terms of speed, you don't suddenly lose it, so it's about how you apply yourself and how you get the best out of yourself and out of the team, knowing how to do that. He's been a huge help and Nico's qualifying lap is excellent which gives us a reference. And race pace, again he's open to working hard and has been improving."