Kevin Magnussen says that current Haas team-mate Mick Schumacher is deserving of a spot on the Formula 1 grid beyond 2022.
Schumacher’s contract with Haas expires at the end of the current campaign, and his future is currently up in the air.
Haas team boss Guenther Steiner recently said that it was a 50/50 situation regarding retaining Schumacher for 2023, which would be his third season in F1.
Schumacher endured a difficult start to 2022, and was involved in high-impact crashes in Saudi Arabia and Monaco.
However, the German has had strong races this year too, including in Austria where he took his best career result in sixth place.
Magnussen believes that Schumacher’s positive performances this year should be enough to keep him on the grid going forward.
“First of all I haven’t had any influence on what’s been going on with the drivers and that’s totally out of my hands,” Magnussen said.
“If I just look at Mick, I think he has been really improving over the year. He started off maybe not really liking the car, lacking a bit of confidence but he’s really gained that and lately he’s been super hard to beat for me.
“And I think the way he’s driving right now, he definitely deserves a place on the grid. But again, you know, totally out of my hands and I can only sort of just wish, wish him well.”
Haas is believed to be considering ex-Force India and Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg as Schumacher’s potential replacement for next year.
With just a handful of races remaining in the 2022 campaign, Schumacher says that he is not expecting to falter under the pressure regarding his future at the team.
“We keep in touch, we keep talking,” Schumacher said. “We don’t want to pressurise anybody, they don’t want to pressurise me either. It’ll happen naturally. I’m happy where I’m at.
“My life… the moment I chose racing as a profession, it’s always been filled with pressure. I think I probably thrive through pressure.”
