McLaren have confirmed that 21-year old Danish driver Kevin Magnussen will make his Formula One debut with the team at the start of 2014. Magnussen will partner 2009 World Champion Jenson Button.
Kevin Magnussen is the son of former F1 driver Jan Magnussen, whose Formula 1 career began with a one-off drive for McLaren at the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix. The younger Magnussen recently won the Formula Renault 3.5 championship by a comfortable margin, demonstrating his considerable talent behind the wheel of a racing car.
Magnussen replaces Sergio Perez, who yesterday announced that he will be leaving the team at the end of 2013, despite this being only his first season with McLaren.
Here’s what Kevin Magnussen and McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh had to say in McLaren’s press release:
Kevin Magnussen: “I’m absolutely overjoyed to be making my Formula 1 debut with McLaren. 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 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.”
Martin Whitmarsh (Team Principal): “We’re delighted that Kevin will be joining Jenson as a McLaren Formula 1 race driver for 2014. 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.
“Last but very far from least, I want to take this opportunity to thank Checo [Sergio Perez], 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.”
Chris on F1 
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