Kevin Magnussen has admitted “there is a chance” he will miss out on earning a renewal with Haas for 2025, which could lead him to exit Formula 1 again altogether.
Magnussen’s current contract will expire come the end of this season and he is under pressure to earn another extension to that deal amid a disappointing campaign.
The Dane has scored one point in the opening nine races compared to team-mate Nico Hulkenberg’s six, while the German also fronts the head-to-head in both duels.
Magnussen has also been criticised due to multiple clashes with rivals that have put him two points from accumulating 12 penalty points and landing a one-race ban.
Haas boss Aeao Komatsu has revealed that outgoing Alpine driver Esteban Ocon is an option, while Ferrari prospect Oliver Bearman is thought to be in line for a seat.
When asked in Canada whether there is a risk that he will end up without a seat in F1 next term, Magnussen responded: “Yes. There is a chance that that will happen.”
But Magnussen has stated that he wants to remain in F1 with Haas as he considers the team to be “in a good position for the future” amid its improvement this term.
“I want to be in Formula 1,” he stressed. “That’s what I’m concentrating on. Only when all the doors are closed will I look for something else.”
However, Magnussen claimed that he’s not panicking about the situation compared to how he dealt with losing his McLaren seat following his rookie season in 2014.
“In the past, when I was younger, something like this would probably have stressed me out more and I would have felt the pressure more,” he explained.
“But now I’m able to put it aside quite well, just get in the car and do my best.”
Magnussen insists that he has improved upon last term, but he has rued external factors preventing him from showing his renewed pace on a more consistent basis.
“The pace was there,” he lamented. “I am a much stronger driver than last year.
“I found it difficult to adjust to the car, especially in qualifying. That is much easier for me this year. But it just didn’t go my way in a lot of situations.
“I’ve had traffic so many times, second lap in Q1 or Q2, then suddenly a problem, or a poorly managed out-lap, something like that.
“Or, if we had a good race, the safety car comes at the wrong time. It’s just one of those years where you always seem to have a headwind.
“Let’s take Imola. Suddenly a McLaren comes out of the pits in front of me and can’t even start its lap. How can you predict that?
“It costs me a good starting position. In the race, the pace is fantastic and I almost make it into the points.
“Without the bad luck, I would have started near the top 10 and would definitely have scored points,” he concluded.
