Haas to part ways with Grosjean and Magnussen

The announcement should come ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix this weekend in Portimão. AUTOhebdo learned that adventure Haas will stop for Romain Grosjean et Kevin Magnussen on the evening of the 2020 season in Abu Dhabi. Both pilots were informed of the decision several days ago.

The news is not a huge surprise given the trends that had been emerging for several weeks and that could be seen in the statements of their boss Guenther Steiner. The Italian main team has often spoken about “ a shortlist of around ten candidates » » for 2021 and affirmed « do not exclude any avenue ”, including the recruitment of a pair of newbies. 

Teammates since 2017, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen helped the young American team progress to 5th in the Manufacturers' standings in 2018 before a fall from which Haas is still feeling the effects today. 

Also affected by the Coronavirus crisis, the American team, which signed the 2021-25 Concorde Agreement, will turn to the paid driver option to try to redress the situation. One of its two vacant seats should in fact be recovered by Nikita mazepin, whose arrival is changing the situation on the transfer market and would be accompanied by a nice jackpot for Haas, the beginnings of a future takeover.

Who will support the young Russian, currently 6th in the ranking in Formula 2 with a pair of victories? Concerned about its good relations with its driving partner Ferrari, Haas would welcome one of the best elements of the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA). 

According to our information, the balance tends to lean towards Mick Schumacher, leader of the F2 championship while his rival Callum Ilott, who was to make his debut with the American team as part of a Grand Prix F1 at the Nüburgring, seemed to be the chosen candidate. 

The choice not to renew Grosjean and Magnussen leaves the 2020 Haas starters without much hope of continuing their careers in Formula 1 beyond the current season, even if both have already managed to return to the premier category after being relegated to the sidelines: in 2012 with Lotus for the Frenchman, in 2016 with Renault regarding the Dane.

Grosjean, who had made the bet to join Haas at the launch of the team in 2016, could bounce back in Formula E or WEC, he who does not hide his interest in both disciplines as well as the return of Peugeot Asked 24 Hours of Le Mans. At 34, the Genevan, who has 10 podiums in 175 starts, still has many good years at the highest level ahead of him. 

The future of his teammate Magnussen, 28 years old and one finish in the Top 3 in 113 appearances, seems more vague at the moment. We will remember that the Dane had established some contacts in IndyCar while he was a reservist McLaren-Honda early 2015 before replacing Fernando Alonso, injured in winter testing, at the Australian GP that year.

Find the analysis of the latest movements of the F1 transfer window in Issue 2283 of AUTOhebdo, available in digital version here.