Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen have confirmed they will depart the Haas team at the end of 2020.
Amid recent poor performance and the financial impact of Covid-19, team boss Guenther Steiner has been indicating at an all-new line-up for next season
In the case of Grosjean, he was the first big signing made by the American squad when they joined the grid in 2016, making the move from Lotus.
But in a Facebook post early Thursday, announced he would indeed be leaving Haas.
“The last chapter is closed and the book is finished,” he began.
“I’ve been with Haas F1 Team since Day 1. Five years during which we went through highs and lows, scored 110 points in 92 races, but the journey was worth it.
“I’ve learned a lot, improved to be a better driver as well as a better man. I hope I’ve also helped people in the team to improve themself. This is probably my biggest pride, more than any of the crazy first races in 2016 or the P4 at the Austrian GP 2018.
“I wish the team all the best for the future.”
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Soon after, Magnussen, who joined Haas a year later than Grosjean in 2017, also announced his departure.
“The 2020 Formula 1 season will be my last with Haas F1 Team,” said the Dane. “I have had a great time with the team for four years and I look back at a great journey.
“Being part of a brand new team has been a challenge that I have thoroughly enjoyed and it has brought me a huge amount of experience that has helped me grow and develop as a racing driver.”
Magnussen thanked team owner Gene Haas and team boss Steiner for their “loyalty and trust in me over the past four years.
“I am still working on my plans for the future, which I will announce in due course,” he added.
“There are still six races to do this season, and I am determined to give my all to finish off on a high. Thank you all for your support.”
The latest rumours suggest a pair of current F2 drivers, Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, will form an all-new line-up at Haas in 2021, with that being confirmed as early as this weekend in Portimao.
Before then, Steiner thanked both drivers for their contribution to the Haas project.
“Romain was a fundamental part of our establishment as we sought to get a driver on board with both speed and experience,” he said.
“His results in early 2016 were a just reward, not only for his own talent but also for the sheer amount of effort the team had put in to be on the grid that season.
“When Kevin joined a season later, we saw an immediate return with both cars scoring points, and of course, our first double points finish in Monaco that year.
“We have a lot of good memories together – in particular, our 2018 season when we finished fifth in the standings in only our third season. Romain and Kevin played a significant part in that success.
“Of course, there is still plenty of racing left in the 2020 season. It’s been a challenging year, no doubt about that, but both drivers have given their all behind the wheel of the VF-20.
“We value their inputs and experience to keep pushing the team forward through to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.”
