Magnussen rules out Haas Formula 1 substitute call up
New Peugeot World Endurance Championship signing Kevin Magnussen has ruled out returning to Formula 1 with Haas if asked to substitute for one of its new drivers in 2021
Magnussen, who was announced as part of Peugeot's 2022 WEC line-up on Monday, was responding to comments from former boss Gunther Steiner.
Steiner claimed that he would be happy to call on either the Dane or fellow Haas refugee Romain Grosjean to stand in for Mick Schumacher or Nikita Mazepin if required, but Magnussen says he wouldn't have "much interest in that".
"Gunther is a good friend, as are many people in the Haas F1 team, but any talk about racing, like a one-off race, I don't have much interest in that," said Magnussen, whose primary programme in 2021 is racing with Chip Ganassi Racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in North America.
PLUS: Why Magnussen is relishing a fresh start in sportscars
"I like to be fully focused on what I am doing and I miss winning. I've done seven years of F1, [so] doing one more race, I don't think is that interesting."
Asked if he was drawing a line under his F1 career, Magnussen replied: "If Mercedes came and asked me if I wanted to drive, I think everyone would look at that very seriously.
"[But] I have given F1 a very fair shot; I think I have done my best to try to be successful.
"I've done it and feel like I'm ready to go and win some stuff again — that's really where I'm at."
Magnussen explained that he believes he has continued to improve as a driver and is ready to move forward in his career after parting company with Haas after four seasons at the end of last year.
"I continued to develop as a driver even though the results [with Haas] weren't getting better," he said.
"I feel like I am in a very good spot — with the experience I had I felt like I was ready to take some sort of step."
He described moving into sportscars and signing for Peugeot to drive in the WEC as "the perfect step for me".
Steiner said last week that Haas had parted company with Magnussen and Grosjean "without fall-out" and "wouldn't mind" having either back, though he conceded that he hadn't talked to either about acting as a substitute.
New Dale Coyne Racing IndyCar driver Grosjean had already stated that he would open to filling in for another driver, at the same time as describing his full-time career in F1 as a "closed book".
Haas is planning to appoint a full-season reserve, a role filled by Pietro Fittipaldi in 2019-20.
The Brazilian, who took Grosjean's place after his accident in Bahrain for the final two F1 races of 2021, remains a candidate for the role, according to Steiner.
Autosport Podcast: What we've learned from Hamilton's new F1 deal
Start-up Monaco team project remains interested in F1 entry
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix
Why “faster” Ferrari couldn’t beat Red Bull in Canadian GP
On paper the Canadian Grand Prix will go down as Max Verstappen’s latest triumph, fending off late pressure from Carlos Sainz to extend his Formula 1 world championship lead. But as safety car periods, virtual and real, shook up the race Ferrari demonstrated it can take the fight to Red Bull after recent failures
The in-demand helmet designer creating works of art for F1's best
GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV pays a visit to designer Jens Munser, to observe the production of Mick Schumacher’s special helmet for the Miami Grand Prix. What follows is some fascinating insight on the mindsets of Mick’s dad Michael, and family friend Sebastian Vettel