F1 News: Haas Confirms Kevin Magnussen Replacement For 2025

Haas has now confirmed it's full driver line-up for 2025.

May 3, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alpine driver Esteban Ocon (31) talks with the media after F1 Sprint Qualifying at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Esteban Ocon has been named as Kevin Magnussen's successor at Haas starting with the 2025 season on a multi-year contract.

French driver Esteban Ocon, age 27, brings a wealth of experience, having made his Formula 1 debut in 2016. His career began with Manor Racing, progressing through stints at Force India, Renault, and Alpine. Ocon clinched his first Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix and will be the first Grand Prix race winner to join Haas.

Ocon's connection to Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu dates back to his first Formula 1 test in 2014 with Lotus F1 Team, where Komatsu was his race engineer. This ongoing rapport highlights a meaningful continuity as both parties look toward future successes with Haas.

Ayao Komatsu expressed his enthusiasm about Ocon’s joining:,

“I’m delighted we’ve secured Esteban Ocon’s services for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team,” stated Komatsu. “I’ve obviously been aware of his talents for a long time and our personal history dates back to Esteban’s maiden run in a Formula 1 car – I was his race engineer that day with Lotus. He displayed his talents back then coming off the back of strong performances in the junior categories – he’d just won the 2014 European Formula 3 Championship. Esteban’s gone on to become an established talent in Formula 1 and of course a grand prix winner. The experience he brings, not just from his own talent base but also from working for a manufacturer team, will be advantageous to us in our growth as an organization. It was vital we had a driver with experience in beside Oliver Bearman next year, but Esteban’s only 27 – he’s still young with a lot to prove as well. I think we have a hungry, dynamic driver pairing and I look forward to welcoming Esteban into MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for 2025.”

Gene Haas, the team owner, also emphasized the strategic direction of the acquisition:

“It was important to me that we have a driver with a known pedigree in Formula 1, and as a grand prix winner, Esteban undoubtedly fits that brief. Esteban’s proved himself in the teams he’s raced for as someone who’s continually in the mix and scoring points – it’s that continuity we’re keen to capitalize on as we look for increased performance gains on-track. We have a blend of youth and experience in our future driver line-up and I’m excited to see the results.”

From Ocon's perspective, the transition to Haas is a leap towards achieving further milestones in his career.

“I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter in my Formula 1 career and join MoneyGram Haas F1 Team from the start of the 2025 season. I’ll be joining a very ambitious racing team, whose spirit, work ethic, and undeniable upward trajectory has really impressed me. I’d like to thank Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for their trust and support, and for our honest and fruitful discussions these last few months. On a more personal note, I’m very happy to be working with Ayao again, as he’s been a part of my debut when I first stepped into a Formula 1 car during my Lotus Junior days more than ten years ago. MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has exciting plans and clear targets for the future, and I’m very much looking forward to working with everyone in Kannapolis, Banbury and Maranello, and being part of this great project.”