Why Haas F1 Is the Best Option in 2016 for Kevin Magnussen
Kevin Magnussen was the sacrificial lamb as McLaren welcomed Honda with open arms. But they were anxious to prove he remained what chairman Ron Dennis called "an integral part of our team" and "an excellent prospect for the future," per McLaren's official website.
Upon the confirmation of their driver lineup for the 2015 Formula One season last December, after several months of speculation, McLaren could have shone the spotlight on Fernando Alonso: a two-time world champion, a major signing from Ferrari and the most complete driver of his generation.
They could have directed the attention toward Jenson Button: the 2009 title winner, whom the most dramatic transfer saga of recent years had revolved around and who could now prepare for his sixth season as a McLaren driver with his future finally resolved.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
But in the accompanying photograph as the "the new era of McLaren-Honda" was revealed, it was Magnussen given centre stage, despite being demoted to a reserve-driver role for 2015.
Flanked by the stars of the show—to his right stood Button and Honda motorsport boss Yasuhisa Arai, at his left were Alonso and Dennis together again—the message was loud and clear.
Ahead of a crucial season, in which teething troubles were inevitable as the team hoped to recreate their triumphs of the late 1980s and '90s, a high-profile and experienced driver pairing was the only possible option for McLaren.
But despite earning a contract extension, Button was merely keeping a seat warm for Magnussen, laying the foundations for his future success.
Nine months on, however, and that image—the symbolism of portraying Magnussen as the focal point, cocooned by figures of such unbridled success and paramount importance—is no longer a reflection of a team's commitment to a homegrown, future world champion, but a charade.
The only McLaren driver to stand on a grand prix podium since 2012, Magnussen has slipped from being almost assured of a return to a race seat in either 2016 or '17 to a distant third in the race to partner Alonso.
At the tender age of 22, Magnussen is in no man's land, unable to offer the wisdom and publicity provided by Button and, with no racing of any kind under his belt in 2015, incapable of presenting constant reminders of his talent in the style of Stoffel Vandoorne, a fellow McLaren protege, who is set to win this year's GP2 championship.
His predicament, in an era when Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo have all graduated from young-driver programs to enjoy considerable success, is a regrettable example of what can happen when the careers of emerging talents are mishandled by major corporations in the never-ending search for instant results.
And Magnussen appears to be finally coming to acknowledge the McLaren dream is dying, placing himself in the shop window as the driver market approaches its climax.
In mid-August, he told Autosport's Ben Anderson there is "no way in hell" he would settle for another year without full-time racing, before revealing, per F1i's Chris Medland, he has received contact from other F1 teams regarding a return to the grid in 2016.
His recent claim, as reported by Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble, that, despite only competing in 20 grand prix weekends, he has "lots of experience that can benefit any team" felt like a come-and-get-me plea to the new Haas team, which he regards an "interesting project" and "something that could be good for the future."
Magnussen's status as McLaren's afterthought almost perfectly aligns with Haas' recruitment policy, which, as team principal Gunther Steiner told the team's official YouTube channel, places an emphasis on experience and luring drivers who have grown frustrated with their current teams or those simply left standing when this year's edition of musical chairs concludes.
A potential problem for Magnussen is whether McLaren would permit a switch to Haas, who, with a technical partnership with Ferrari, will become the B-team of a rival manufacturer.
McLaren have made a habit of poaching drivers from the clutches of their opponents, with their signings of Kimi Raikkonen and Sergio Perez from Sauber, in 2001 and 2012 respectively, occurring at a time both were regarded as future Ferrari stars.
While releasing Magnussen would salvage a degree of pride for McLaren's junior-driver scheme, admitting the experiment failed and allowing him to restart his career elsewhere, it is unclear whether they would be willing to strengthen a competitor when they themselves are uncompetitive.
According to F1 journalist James Allen, a team boss recently described Magnussen as a "sleeper" in the transfer market, suggesting the Danish driver—for all the talk of exploring alternative options—is still blinded by the prospect of returning to the cockpit of a McLaren.
Yet it also highlighted the difficulties facing Magnussen. Having had his career moulded by McLaren since joining the team as a teenager in 2010, he could now be set to go it alone in the big, wide world that is the Formula One paddock.
But it is that sense of independence he must now embrace.
At Haas, and alongside Esteban Gutierrez—the overwhelming favourite for a seat and another driver whose initial taste of F1 was all too short-lived—Magnussen would be afforded the time to develop at his own pace in an environment high on hope but with limited expectations.
His mistakes will be occupational hazards, rather than symptoms of "rookie syndrome" (as McLaren racing director Eric Boullier disdainfully told Autosport's Anderson in mid-2014), and his successes will be the byproduct of a forgiving, patient and progressive atmosphere.
In a brand-new outfit, he would be valued and appreciated in a way he never was at McLaren, where he was burdened by years of failure at a team always on the lookout for someone better.
Magnussen deserves better than to rot at the rear of the McLaren garage, waiting for a seat that will never come his way, and Haas can provide a service to F1 by offering him something every young driver craves: an opportunity to shine.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
