Magnussen to test for Haas in 2025 F1 role

Kevin Magnussen will retain an active role with the Haas Formula 1 team this year, despite losing his race seat at the end of 2024.

The Dane’s contract with Haas was not renewed for this season, as the squad elected for an all-new line-up of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.

However, as part of a partnership that has opened up with Toyota, Haas is running a full test programme in an old car throughout 2025 and has now agreed a deal with Magnussen for him to contribute.

With new restrictions under the Testing Previous Car (TPC) regulations limiting the mileage current race drivers can do in those cars, the experienced Magnussen is the perfect fit to help Haas’s efforts there.

Speaking about the arrangement with Magnussen, Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu said: “He's going to drive some TPC events to provide a reference.  We have got a good relationship.”

Beyond the TPC role, there is also a possibility that Magnussen will attend a few races with Haas when his sportscar commitments allow, although his role there has not been defined.

Speaking at the end of last year, Magnussen said while he was happy to retain links to F1, he never just wanted to be on the sidelines as a permanent reserve driver for example.

“I’m not going to be a reserve driver as such, sitting around at every race waiting for someone to break his leg,” he said. “It is not what I want to do. I don’t need to do that.”

Magnussen’s main focus this year will be with BMW’s LMDh programme in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and World Endurance Championship – which will include an assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours and begins this weekend with the IMSA-opening Daytona 24 Hours.

“It’s good to be racing,” he explained. “I’ve always had a passion for all sorts of motorsport races. With the BMW deal, that allows me to go and explore and win some of these big classic endurance races.”

Haas recently completed its first TPC run at Jerez in Spain as part of its build-up to the new season.

Race drivers Ocon and Bearman drove alongside Toyota protege Ritomo Miyata in a VF-23 car.