Magnussen downplays rumors of an F1 return: ‘I’m very happy where I am’

Kevin Magnussen has seen the steady flow of rumors suggesting he’s looking to make a quick exit from his new career in sports car racing and find another Formula 1 seat, but the Dane says the speculation is entirely false.

With the dual FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship prototype campaigns he’s created for himself with BMW, Magnussen is a vision of happiness and contentment, which wasn’t the case for most of his F1 career.

“There’s always going to be rumors around and I think lately there’s probably been some stuff written around that, but that’s normal in this world,” the son of sports car legend Jan Magnussen told RACER. “I’m very happy here. You know, it’s great for me to be to be able to do these fantastic races; my program in WEC, which is the main program, and then I get to do the endurance races in IMSA, also.

“I think the Hypercar category right now is super exciting with all the manufacturers. You look at the entry list, you know the drivers as well, is top class. So I think the competition here is what’s really driving me. I think it’s a golden era for sports car racing. So I’m very happy where I am.”

The ability to fight for poles and wins — his No. 24 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8 GTP car is on pole for Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring — is the main attraction for the 32-year-old after more than a decade of fighting for scraps in F1.

“I’ve been in Formula 1 for over a 10-year period, doing almost 200 grand prix,” he said. “It’s great. So I’ve had a chance to be in at one time, had a career in Formula 1. I’m very, very grateful for that. But, you know, I miss winning, and I miss being in the run for championships. That really is motivating me from a sporting perspective. Le Mans is obviously the main one.

“You wake up in the morning and you think about how we’re going to win this race. I haven’t had that for many years in Formula 1, honestly. It was more about getting a point or two if you could. And, you know, maybe P5 or P6 in the constructors’ championship. After a long stretch of years, I miss just being in the run for championships and wins, and I can definitely do that with BMW.”