There had to be a fall guy at McLaren with four drivers vying for just two seats and it was Kevin Magnussen, the Danish youngster who promised much but has not been given the chance to deliver.
Magnussen was hailed as a star of the future when he was promoted to drive alongside Jenson Button at McLaren at the start of 2014. A second place at his maiden grand prix, in Australia, seemed to confirm his promise but that was as good as it got for the 23-year-old Dane.
He was replaced by Fernando Alonso, the two-times world champion, this season and once Button was retained for next year, the doors were closed at McLaren.
Magnussen’s contract has not been renewed and he will not even be reserve driver. That job will likely fall to Stoffel Vandoorne, the new GP2 champion, unless McLaren can find him a seat with one of Formula One’s midfield teams.
Magnussen has not given up on F1 yet and he is talking to the new Haas outfit, the US-based team scheduled to join F1 next season. There are also two seats up for grabs at the revitalised Manor Grand Prix, who will have the considerable benefit of Mercedes engine power next season.
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“I have had good talks with a number of Formula 1 teams, and some of them are still going on,” Magnussen told Motorsport.com. “So, I have chances there. Formula One is still my aim.My ambitions haven’t changed. I know how to win races, I know how to win championships and I still intend to be Formula One world champion.”
The writing was on the wall the moment it was confirmed that Button was staying with McLaren for a seventh season alongside Alonso to make up the most experienced partnership in Formula One. Magnussen did not want a second season on the sidelines.
“I made it clear that I was 100 per cent determined to race next year, and obviously McLaren already have two contracted race drivers for next year. Three into two won’t go, will it?”
Magnussen’s plight reflects the problems of many young drivers trying to break into the top flight. Unless they have the backing of a top team or a sack full of dollars to buy a place with the weaker teams, there is little chance.
Even the backing of a top team might not be enough, as Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat may yet find out. Red Bull’s threat to quit the sport would hit four budding talents badly – Ricciardo and Kvyat at Red Bull and Sainz and Verstappen at the junior Toro Rosso team.
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Red Bull say they have no engines for next year after being refused by Mercedes and offered out-of-date 2015 engines for the 2016 season by Ferrari. Their relationship with Renault appears to be terminal and Honda, the only other option, are not capable of supplying more than their McLaren partners after a woeful maiden season as a hybrid engine constructor.
Bernie Ecclestone, F1’s chief executive, insists that Red Bull will be “sorted” but time is running out and Christian Horner, the team’s principal, insists he has no idea yet whether there will be an available engine for next season.