Magnussen joins Button at McLaren for 2014

By on Thursday, November 14, 2013
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

McLaren has confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will race for the team in 2014, alongside Jenson Button.

Magnussen, 21, won the Formula Renault 3.5 Series this season and will replace Sergio Perez at the team.

The Dane tested for McLaren in Abu Dhabi last year and at Silverstone earlier this season.

"I’m absolutely overjoyed to be making my Formula 1 debut with McLaren," said Magnussen.

"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 1 driver."

"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 [Whitmarsh] and his senior colleagues, for giving me this chance. 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 1 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."

Magnussen will be the fifth Danish driver to have entered a Formula 1 race and the first since Nicolas Kiesa in 2003. Magnussen's father, Jan, also made his debut for McLaren, finishing 10th in the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix.

Magnussen will be the first rookie to race for McLaren since Lewis Hamilton in 2007.

"We’re delighted that Kevin will be joining Jenson as a McLaren Formula 1 race driver for 2014," added team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

"Their confirmation is an important step for us as we continue to strengthen our organisation ahead of the 2014 season. Next year, we’ll witness the biggest raft of technical changes to Formula 1 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."

"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."

"Kevin, too, is clearly very talented and very determined, and we therefore have high hopes for him. Moreover, every time he's tested our Formula 1 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."

Whitmarsh also thanked Perez for his contribution to the team in 2013.

"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."

"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."


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