Within minutes of each other this Thursday morning both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen announced that they will not be driving for the Haas Formula 1 team in 2021.
The first to break the news was Grosjean on his Facebook page, in a statement which hinted that the decision was not a mutual one. Grosjean wrote: “The last chapter is closed and the book is finished. 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.”
Shortly afterwards Magnussen revealed that the team would be going with an all-new driver line-up next year by announcing, this time on Instagram, that, “The 2020 Formula 1 season will be my last with Haas F1 Team. I have had a great time with the team for four years and I look back at a great journey.”
Despite there being six races left in the season, neither driver is likely to secure a drive for 2021 as most cockpits have been assigned. Grosjean joined Haas for its inaugural season in 2016 with his best result for them a fourth place at Austria in 2018. He has in the past expressed interest in the Peugeot Hypercar project, set to start racing in 2022.
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said: "I want to extend my thanks to both Romain and Kevin for their hard work and commitment to Haas F1 Team over the past few seasons.”
Images courtesy of Motoring Images.
Formula 1
F1 2021
Haas
Romain Grosjean
Kevin Magnussen