“McLaren called me up”: Sacked F1 driver Kevin Magnussen makes his feelings known on the surprise IndyCar debut opportunity

Former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen recently reflected on the time he got a surprise opportunity in IndyCar. Magnussen competed in the Grand Prix of Road America back in 2021.

The Danish racing star was among the list of Formula 1 drivers who lost their rides at the end of the 2024 season. Coming off of two dismal campaigns which saw him finish 19th and 15th respectively, Kevin Magnussen's second stint in F1 came to a close after Haas chose not to renew the 32-year-old.

However, for the Dane, this isn't the first time he has been let go of by Haas. Notably, Kevin Magnussen was a Haas F1 driver for four seasons from 2017 to 2020. Similar to the present circumstance, he and his then-teammate Romain Grosjean's contracts weren't renewed.

For Magnussen, a move to the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship was in sight. He spent two seasons there with Chip Ganassi Racing. However, it was during his IMSA stint that Magnussen got the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in IndyCar. He stepped in the Arrow McLaren SP car during the Grand Prix of Road America, coming in as a one-off replacement for the injured Felix Rosenqvist.

Reflecting on this opportunity in a recent social media post, Magnussen shared a series of photographs chronicling his motorsport journey. He paused to recount the circumstances of his 2021 IndyCar drive, revealing:

"IndyCar race in Road America, a one off race in IndyCar in 2021. In the year when I was out of Formula 1, their driver Felix Rosenqvist had a crash the week before, so he had to sit out a race and McLaren called me up to ask if I could substitute and I did."

"I actually led the race for some laps before the engine blew up, so that was that," he added.

Kevin Magnussen's partner at Haas, Nico Hulkenberg also left the side, but unlike his former teammate, the German will remain in F1 as he has joined Sauber's roster for the upcoming season.

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What's next for Kevin Magnussen's career?

Kevin Magnussen driving the (20) Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Source: Getty

While Kevin Magnussen’s time in Formula 1 is behind him, the Danish driver is not slowing down. Last month, BMW M Motorsport announced that Magnussen would join their ranks, competing with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in endurance racing.

This includes appearances in prestigious events such as the IMSA Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), with potential participation in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Reflecting on the move, Magnussen expressed his enthusiasm for the new chapter. He said:

"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." [via BMW Group]

Magnussen further expressed his eagerness to start preparations for the 2025 season. He said:

"A huge thank you to BMW M Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity. I can hardly wait to start the preparations and look forward to kicking off the 2025 season with the rest of the team."

Kevin Magnussen and his former teammate Nico Hulkenberg have been replaced by French driver Esteban Ocon and former Ferrari Academy product Oliver Bearman.