For the next few weeks, as we await the return of racing, Motorsport Week will delve into the archives to search out the first time that our grid of 2020 F1 racers stepped into top-level machinery in a public forum.
Magnussen is so embedded within the Haas organisation that it seems almost impossible to recall a time when the Danish youngster sported another team’s colours.
But as he rose through the ranks Magnussen’s career was supported by McLaren, as it sought out the next star to potentially drive for the team, then a front-runner regularly battling for wins.
Having joined McLaren’s young driver development programme at the start of the decade, Magnussen was handed his first F1 test chance in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2012.
Magnussen impressed with his speed and technical feedback during the test at the Yas Marina Circuit, as he put the race-winning MP4-27 through its paces.
Magnussen had another test chance mid-2013 at Silverstone and, with Sergio Perez not impressing senior figures, Magnussen was handed the race seat for 2014.
