demon2424
14th November 2013, 21:09
As expected, McLaren have announced that Danish newcomer Kevin Magnussen will partner Jenson Button in the team’s 2014 race line-up. Magnussen, 21, recently won this year's World Series by Renault 3.5 Championship and is a member of McLaren’s driver development programme.
“I’m absolutely overjoyed to be making my Formula One debut with McLaren,” said Magnussen, who replaces Sergio Perez. “I’ll put it simply: this team is the best. It's been my dream to drive for McLaren ever since I was a small kid, and it's no exaggeration to say that I've dedicated almost every day of my life to achieving the goal of becoming a McLaren Formula One driver.”
Commenting on Magnussen’s signing, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “We’re delighted that Kevin will be joining Jenson as a McLaren Formula One race driver for 2014. Their confirmation is an important step for us as we continue to strengthen our organisation ahead of the 2014 season.
“Kevin is clearly very talented and very determined, and we therefore have high hopes for him. Moreover, every time he's tested our Formula One car, he's been very quick and very methodical, and his feedback has been first-class. Furthermore, the manner in which he won this year's World Series by Renault 3.5 Championship was truly outstanding, showcasing as it did not only his impressive natural pace but also his increasing maturity and ability to structure and manage a championship campaign.”
Magnussen has made several official test appearances for McLaren, most recently at this year’s young driver test at Silverstone. His father Jan was also a McLaren driver, racing just once for the team in the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix in Japan.
“I have an enormous amount of respect for everyone at McLaren, and I want to say a massive 'thank you' to everyone, but most of all to Martin and his senior colleagues, for giving me this chance,” added Magnussen. “I won't let you down, guys!
“Equally, in Jenson, I have absolutely the ideal team mate. He's extremely quick, obviously, but he's also very experienced and superbly capable from a technical perspective. He's a Formula One world champion, which is what one day I also hope to become, and I'm determined to learn as much as I can from him.”
For Button, next season will be his fifth with McLaren and Whitmarsh emphasised just how important the British driver’s experience will be in light of the huge regulation shake-up in 2014.
“Next year, we’ll witness the biggest raft of technical changes to Formula One in many years, and every team and manufacturer will be pushed to the limit as they try their best to adapt to those new challenges,” said Whitmarsh. “Jenson’s race-winning speed, intelligence and racecraft have long been a crucial advantage to McLaren, but it’s his skill as a development driver and his peerless technical feedback that will be equally valuable as we make the transition into a new and complex technical formula during the winter and new year.”
McLaren’s confirmation of their 2014 line-up comes just hours after Perez announced he will be departing at the end of the year after just a single season with the team, leaving the Mexican’s Formula One future uncertain.
“Last but very far from least, I want to take this opportunity to thank Checo, who has developed well during a difficult season, as his recent run of points-scoring finishes underlines,” concluded Whitmarsh. “He's a lovely guy and a fine driver - fast and combative - and I’m sure he’ll build on that firm foundation in 2014. All at McLaren wish him well for the future.”
Wow, so finally he leaves McLaren.
“I’m absolutely overjoyed to be making my Formula One debut with McLaren,” said Magnussen, who replaces Sergio Perez. “I’ll put it simply: this team is the best. It's been my dream to drive for McLaren ever since I was a small kid, and it's no exaggeration to say that I've dedicated almost every day of my life to achieving the goal of becoming a McLaren Formula One driver.”
Commenting on Magnussen’s signing, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “We’re delighted that Kevin will be joining Jenson as a McLaren Formula One race driver for 2014. Their confirmation is an important step for us as we continue to strengthen our organisation ahead of the 2014 season.
“Kevin is clearly very talented and very determined, and we therefore have high hopes for him. Moreover, every time he's tested our Formula One car, he's been very quick and very methodical, and his feedback has been first-class. Furthermore, the manner in which he won this year's World Series by Renault 3.5 Championship was truly outstanding, showcasing as it did not only his impressive natural pace but also his increasing maturity and ability to structure and manage a championship campaign.”
Magnussen has made several official test appearances for McLaren, most recently at this year’s young driver test at Silverstone. His father Jan was also a McLaren driver, racing just once for the team in the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix in Japan.
“I have an enormous amount of respect for everyone at McLaren, and I want to say a massive 'thank you' to everyone, but most of all to Martin and his senior colleagues, for giving me this chance,” added Magnussen. “I won't let you down, guys!
“Equally, in Jenson, I have absolutely the ideal team mate. He's extremely quick, obviously, but he's also very experienced and superbly capable from a technical perspective. He's a Formula One world champion, which is what one day I also hope to become, and I'm determined to learn as much as I can from him.”
For Button, next season will be his fifth with McLaren and Whitmarsh emphasised just how important the British driver’s experience will be in light of the huge regulation shake-up in 2014.
“Next year, we’ll witness the biggest raft of technical changes to Formula One in many years, and every team and manufacturer will be pushed to the limit as they try their best to adapt to those new challenges,” said Whitmarsh. “Jenson’s race-winning speed, intelligence and racecraft have long been a crucial advantage to McLaren, but it’s his skill as a development driver and his peerless technical feedback that will be equally valuable as we make the transition into a new and complex technical formula during the winter and new year.”
McLaren’s confirmation of their 2014 line-up comes just hours after Perez announced he will be departing at the end of the year after just a single season with the team, leaving the Mexican’s Formula One future uncertain.
“Last but very far from least, I want to take this opportunity to thank Checo, who has developed well during a difficult season, as his recent run of points-scoring finishes underlines,” concluded Whitmarsh. “He's a lovely guy and a fine driver - fast and combative - and I’m sure he’ll build on that firm foundation in 2014. All at McLaren wish him well for the future.”
Wow, so finally he leaves McLaren.