Formula 1: Kevin Magnussen confirmed at Haas for 2020

Haas have confirmed that Kevin Magnussen is set to return to the team for the fourth consecutive year in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Kevin Magnussen signed a multi-year contract with Haas ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season, but as there are in many contracts in Formula 1, there were reportedly clauses in this contract which the team could trigger to release him one year early.

After he was involved in a number of run-ins with teammate Romain Grosjean earlier this season, there was speculation that the 26-year-old Dane could be on his way out of the sport’s lone American team.

However, Haas have confirmed that he is slated to return to the team for the fourth consecutive season in 2020 along with Grosjean.

Here is what Magnussen had to say about the opportunity to return to Haas in the 2020 season, according to the team’s website.

"“I’ve had the comfort of knowing I’d be continuing with the team in 2020 and that’s very much been a positive throughout what’s often been a difficult 2019 season. Knowing we can work to make things better, improve our understanding of our situation, and get back to the level of competitiveness we showed last season – these are the things that excite me about 2020.“We’re a team full of racers, led at the top by Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner. Nobody’s satisfied with how the 2019 season has played out, but the determination to turn things around is very much in evidence. I’m grateful the team have always believed in me and what I can bring to the table. We share a common goal and together with Romain (Grosjean), I’ll be giving it my all on-track for the remainder of this season and into 2020.”"

Here is what team principal Guenther Steiner had to say about the matter.

"“Experience, and the need for it, has been one of the cornerstones of Haas F1 Team, and with Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen racing for the team in 2020, we continue to have a driver lineup that offers us a solid platform to continue our growth.“Their understanding of how we work as a team, and our knowledge of what they can deliver behind the wheel, gives us a valued continuity and a strong foundation to keep building our team around. It’s been a tough year for us in 2019 with the fluctuation in performance of the VF-19, but our ability to tap into our combined experiences will help us learn, improve, and move forward as a unit in 2020.”"

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Magnussen has competed in 95 races since he began competing in Formula 1 in the 2014 season when he drove for McLaren, although he only served as the team’s reserve and test driver the following year. He then drove for Renault in the 2016 season before landing with Haas, where he has competed in 55 races.

Magnussen has recorded just one podium finish throughout his Formula 1 career, and that was his second place finish in his first career start in the 2014 Australian Grand Prix. His best finishes at Haas are his fifth place finishes in last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix and then in the Austrian Grand Prix a few months later.

Through the first 14 races of the 21-race 2019 season, Haas sit in ninth place out of 10 teams in the constructor standings with 26 points. Magnussen has scored 18 of those 26 points on the strength of three top 10 finishes, including a season-high sixth place finish in the Australian Grand Prix, and he sits in 16th in the driver standings ahead of Grosjean in 17th with eight points.

With Haas having confirmed that Kevin Magnussen is set to return to the team for the 2020 Formula 1 season, there are now five seats among four teams that do not have confirmed drivers for next year. Scuderia Toro Rosso have not confirmed either of their two drivers for next year while Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, Alfa Romeo Racing and ROKiT Williams Racing have each confirmed only one.