Haas reveal extent of new Magnussen F1 role
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has confirmed Kevin Magnussen will continue working with the American squad in F1 this season.
The 32-year-old was dropped at the end of last year, with Esteban Ocon and rookie Oliver Bearman securing the team’s two seats, but will remain in the fold.
Magnussen will dovetail his new duties at Haas with endurance racing, where he will compete for BMW.
Specifically, he will drive for BMW M Motorsport’s works LMDh (Hypercar) programme, which includes both IMSA and WEC – and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
However, the exact championship he will race in, and his particular schedule, has yet to be announced by the German team.
For Haas, he will mainly be utilised for the Banbury-based squad’s testing of previous cars [TPC] programme, which will allow him to drive two-year-old machines as a reference point for Ocon and Bearman.
He will also spend time in Toyota’s simulator. Access has been afforded to Haas following the start of its technical partnership with the Japanese car manufacturer last year. This was confirmed by Komatsu to select media including RacingNews365.
“He’s gonna drive some TPCs [testing of previous cars] and simulators,” the 48-year-old said of Magnussen at a small, off-season event.
It is understood by RacingNews365 that the Danish driver will also fulfil a reserve role at a number of rounds on the 2025 F1 calendar, although negotiations are thought to still be ongoing.
Haas’ other F1 reserve driver options
It is not yet clear who else will form the reserve pool of drivers alongside Magnussen, but two of Toyota’s brightest single-seater prospects, Ryo Hirakawa and Ritomo Miyata, may well be in the mix.
Whilst Hirakawa has signed with Alpine in a similar function, it is not out the realms of possibility he might be asked to deputise for Ocon or Bearman if required, given his links to Haas.
The former McLaren test driver, although 30 years of age, took part in the post-season young driver test for the American team.
“Abu Dhabi, he impressed us a lot in terms of everything: speed, feedback, consistency, delivery – didn’t make any big mistakes,” Komatsu explained.
“He was on the pace straight away, feedback was pretty amazing… I think the Toyota guys were kind of expecting that, because they knew what they saw with McLaren.”
Miyata, meanwhile, tested for Haas at Jerez last week alongside its two main drivers and will embark on his second F2 campaign this year, racing for ART Grand Prix.
Despite a disappointing first season at F2 level, finishing P19 for Rodin Motorsport, Miyata already has an FIA super licence, having won both Super Formula and Super GT500 in his native Japan in 2023.
