Kevin Magnussen has confirmed his future in motorsport in 2025 and beyond.
Haas F1 driver will depart from the team and Championship in Abu Dhabi
BMW M Motorsport has confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will race in its LMDh programme starting in 2025.
Let’s give a heartfelt welcome to Kevin Magnussen as he joins the BMW M family! 🙌✨
The 32-year-old Danish racing star is officially becoming a BMW M works driver and will take the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8 next year. 🏎️💨 pic.twitter.com/mtSiwJj0ox
— BMW M Motorsport (@BMWMotorsport) December 5, 2024
Magnussen brings a decade of top-level motorsport experience to his new role. He will pilot the BMW M Hybrid V8 in endurance races worldwide.
Background
After completing 185 F1 races between 2024 and 2024, Magnussen shifts his focus to sportscar racing. BMW announced the move ahead of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Magnussen will close out his F1 season.
The Dane will depart the Haas F1 team after they signed Esteban Ocon from Alpine and Ferrari Academy junior Oliver ‘Ollie’ Bearman from F2 for 2025.
As of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, he has achieved one pole position, two fastest laps, and a singular podium. He holds the record for the most F1 career starts without leading a lap at 184.
Magnussen expressed his excitement about the transition, saying:
“I am happy and proud to represent such an iconic motorsport brand as BMW in some of the world’s most legendary races. After ten years in Formula 1, I am embarking on a new and exciting chapter, and I look forward to taking on the challenge in the most innovative and advanced sports cars in the history of endurance racing. A huge thank you to BMW M Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity.”
BMW M Motorsport’s LMDh programme competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
BREAKING: Kevin Magnussen will drive for @BMWMotorsport in 2025. #WEC #BMW pic.twitter.com/uwrQECgp7N
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) December 5, 2024
These series include races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a challenge Magnussen has already faced during his 2021 LMP2 campaign. That year, he also completed a full season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, earning one win and five podium finishes.
READ MORE: Emotional Goodbyes: Why the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP Will be Emotional for Teams and Drivers
A Fine Line Between F1 and WEC
Alongside Mick Schumacher who currently represents Alpine and Jenson Button who is a member of Jota/Cadillac in the Championship, WEC is a popular spot for those who once raced in F1:
| Driver | WEC years | F1 years | Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christijan Albers | 2012 | 2005-2007 | 1 |
| Fernando Alonso | 2018, 2019 | 2001, 2003-2018, 2021-present | 9 |
| Sébastien Bourdais | 2012 | 2008-2009 | 2 |
| David Brabham | 2012, 2015 | 1990, 1994 | 9 |
| Martin Brundle | 2012 | 1984-1989, 1991-1996 | 2 |
| Gianmaria Bruni | 2012-2016 | 2004 | 40S |
| Sébastien Buemi | 2012-present | 2009-2011 | 43 |
| Karun Chandhok | 2012 | 2010-2011 | 8 |
| Max Chilton | 2015 | 2013-2014 | 1 |
| Anthony Davidson | 2012-2017 | 2002, 2005, 2007-2008 | 41 |
| Lucas di Grassi | 2012-2016 | 2010 | 28 |
| Giancarlo Fisichella | 2012-2015 | 1996-2009 | 18 |
| Emerson Fittipaldi | 2014 | 1970-1980 | 1 |
| Marc Gené | 2012-2014 | 1999-2000, 2003-2004 | 5 |
| Antonio Giovinazzi | 2016 | 2017 | 2 |
| Brendon Hartley | 2014-2017 | 2017-present | 34 |
| Nick Heidfeld | 2012-2016 | 2000-2011 | 28 |
| Nico Hülkenberg | 2015 | 2010, 2012-present | 2 |
| Stefan Johansson | 2012 | 1980, 1983-1991 | 3 |
| Christian Klien | 2015 | 2004-2006, 2010 | 2 |
| Kamui Kobayashi | 2013, 2016-present | 2009-2012, 2014 | 26 |
| Pedro Lamy | 2012-present | 1993-1996 | 41 |
| Vitantonio Liuzzi | 2012-2013, 2015 | 2005-2007, 2009-2011 | 12 |
| André Lotterer | 2012-present | 2014 | 50 |
| Allan McNish | 2012-2013 | 2002 | 16 |
| Roberto Merhi | 2016-2017 | 2015 | 8 |
| Franck Montagny | 2012 | 2006 | 1 |
| Tiago Monteiro | 2015 | 2005-2006 | |
| Kazuki Nakajima | 2012-present | 2007-2009 | 37 |
| Vitaly Petrov | 2016-present | 2010-2012 | 18 |
| Nelson Piquet, Jr. | 2016-present | 2008-2009 | 11 |
| Antônio Pizzonia | 2013, 2016 | 2003-2005 | 3 |
| Alexander Rossi | 2013 | 2015 | 1 |
| Mika Salo | 2014 | 1994-2000, 2002 | 1 |
| Stéphane Sarrazin | 2012-present | 1999 | 44 |
| Takuma Sato | 2012 | 2002-2008 | 2 |
| Bruno Senna | 2013-2014, 2016-present | 2010-2012 | 23 |
| Will Stevens | 2016 | 2014-2015 | 5 |
| Giedo van der Garde | 2016 | 2013 | 4 |
| Jean-Éric Vergne | 2017-present | 2012-2014 | 8 |
| Mark Webber | 2014-2016 | 2002-2013 | 25 |
| Alexander Wurz | 2012-2015 | 1997-2000, 2005, 2007 | 28
|
Magnussen joins a coveted list where he will aim for successes he did not gain within F1.
A Warm Welcome
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, welcomed Magnussen to the team:
“Kevin Magnussen is an outstanding addition to our LMDh programme. He has regularly demonstrated his speed at the highest level in Formula 1 over the past decade. Thanks to his extensive experience, he is a true asset to our project. His previous full season with a sports car prototype in 2021 is another advantage for us, as it will surely ease his acclimatisation to the BMW M Hybrid V8. I am delighted that Kevin Magnussen is now part of the BMW M Motorsport family.”
Magnussen’s racing schedule for 2025 will be announced in due course. For now, he looks ahead to a fresh chapter with BMW. He will trade the world of F1 for the endurance challenges of sportscar racing.
With BMW’s rich history in motorsport, and Magnussen’s proven talent in and beyond F1, the partnership promises to be an exciting development within the world of endurance racing.
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