Kevin Magnussen could be a surprising contender for a seat with Audi-owned Sauber in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
This would fill the final vacancy on the grid, but talks with potential teammates for Nico Hulkenberg, including current driver Valtteri Bottas, are facing significant delays.
The delay may stem from Audi’s complex negotiations over potential loan deals with Williams and McLaren for their highly-regarded rookies, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto. Others speculate that financial challenges facing Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen, could also be affecting the process. The German automaker is reportedly closing three factories, reducing jobs, and cutting pay by 10%.
In light of this, Magnussen — who will be replaced by Esteban Ocon at Haas in 2025 — could be an ideal, cost-effective choice for Audi-Sauber. Despite being overshadowed by Hulkenberg at Haas, Magnussen has recently shown renewed form with the latest car upgrades, outperforming Hulkenberg notably in Mexico.
German publication *Auto Motor und Sport* awarded Magnussen a perfect score for his P7 finish in Mexico, placing him just behind triple world champion Max Verstappen.
“In this form, the Dane deserves to remain in Formula 1,” the publication stated. “With P7 on the grid, he was less than two-tenths behind Lewis Hamilton. In the race’s final laps, Magnussen even closed in on Verstappen, crossing the line only four seconds behind the Dutchman.”
Auto Motor und Sport went on to say that, based on recent performances, Magnussen is a top candidate for the second Sauber seat and outperforms Valtteri Bottas at present.
Magnussen believes that the older Haas cars didn’t suit his driving style, noting improvements with recent upgrades. “We’ve made changes to the brakes, for example, which has boosted my confidence in the car,” he told *Ekstra Bladet*. “I just need to hold onto that confidence, as something clicked in the last two races, giving me a car I can truly push.”
Haas’ Ayao Komatsu acknowledged Magnussen’s impressive performance, especially in Mexico, and expressed hope for the Dane’s future in F1.
“His pace in the second stint in Mexico was remarkable,” Komatsu noted. “He overtook Verstappen and finished only four seconds behind him, which might be the best I’ve seen Kevin drive.”
