Haas nominates Kevin Magnussen as successor to Nikita Masepin: Return to old employer for the Dane, who is on leave from Peugeot and Ganassi
A successor has been named for Nikita Masepin, who was sacked from the Haas Formula One team in connection with Russia’s war against Ukraine. In place of the Russian, whose future is open, Kevin Magnussen will surprisingly drive for the team from the USA in the upcoming 2022 Formula One season.
For Magnussen, who was already a regular driver at Haas from 2017 to 2020, it will thus be a return to his old employer. After his departure from Grand Prix racing at the end of the 2020 season, the Dane switched to the endurance scene. Thus, he drove in the US sports car series IMSA for Chip Ganassi’s top team in the DPi class. He was also set for Peugeot’s Le Mans programme, including further races in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Now, however, Magnussen has been given the nod when it comes to the question of who will take over the Formula 1 cockpit at Haas from Masepin. Antonio Giovinazzi and Nico Hülkenberg, among others, were also in the conversation for this cockpit. However, the choice as the team’s new regular driver alongside Mick Schumacher has fallen to the team’s former regular driver.
Magnussen had actually finished with Formula 1
“Of course I was very surprised, but at the same time I was thrilled to have received the call from the Haas F1 team,” says Magnussen and confesses: “I was actually looking in a different direction for 2022. But the opportunity to drive in Formula 1 again, and for a team I know extremely well, was just too tempting.”
Both Peugeot in the WEC and Cadillac’s factory Ganassi team in IMSA have given Magnussen time off for the surprise Formula One comeback. “I really have to thank Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing for letting me go on the spot,” said the Dane, adding that “both are great teams. “
Haas with three drivers at Bahrain test
Haas team principal Günther Steiner commented on working with Magnussen again, saying, “When we were looking for a driver who could add value to the team and also has plenty of Formula 1 experience, the decision to go with Kevin was quickly clear. As Kevin is available now, we can have him drive alongside Mick Schumacher and Pietro Fittipaldi in the pre-season test.”
Steiner is referring to the final test in Bahrain from Thursday to Saturday this week before the Formula 1 season opener in 2022 – also in Bahrain on 20 March. Substitute driver Fittipaldi had already been nominated as Masepin’s replacement for this test a few days ago. Now that Magnussen has been confirmed as Masepin’s race replacement, Haas will contest the Bahrain test with three drivers.
“Pietro will drive half a day on Thursday (afternoon) at this week’s test. Mick and Kevin will do the rest of the programme in preparation for the Bahrain Grand Prix,” Steiner explained the Haas team’s schedule for the coming days.
