178-race driver now ‘very unlikely’ to land a seat on the 2025 Formula 1 grid

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Time is running out for a number of Formula 1 drivers to find a seat on the grid for next season.

Sixteen of the 20 spaces in the paddock for the 2025 F1 campaign have already been filled, leaving vacancies at Mercedes, RB, Alpine and Sauber / Audi.

There are also standout candidates for several of these positions with the market virtually closed for another year.

Mercedes look set to confirm Kimi Antonelli with Max Verstappen looking less and less likely to be available for 2025.

Red Bull have to decide how they want their two teams to line up next year with Daniel Ricciardo yet to sign a new deal and Sergio Perez’s future very much in doubt.

However, both positions will be filled by drivers already in the Red Bull set-up potentially giving Liam Lawson and F2 star Isack Hadjar a route onto the grid.

That leaves Alpine and Audi and according to journalist Glenn Freeman speaking on The Race Podcast, one available driver looks very unlikely to be in the frame to join either troubled team.

Kevin Magnussen has had a stop-start Formula 1 career that led to 178 Grand Prix entries.

His career has been defined by three separate spells although it appears as though the conclusion of the 2024 campaign will be when he says his final goodbyes.

Magnussen has raced for Haas more than any other driver and the American team’s time in F1 will always be intertwined with the Dane’s career.

READ MORE: Haas driver Kevin Magnussen’s life outside F1 from wife and daughters to net worth

Kevin Magnussen ‘very unlikely’ to earn a final spot on the F1 grid for 2025

Haas have known for some time that they would be losing Nico Hulkenberg and Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman has been lined up as his replacement ever since he took part in his first FP1 session last year.

All eyes were on whether Magnussen would be retained as the young Brit’s teammate but Esteban Ocon and Alpine’s split provided Haas with an opportunity they couldn’t turn down.

Asked how likely it is that Magnussen lands a seat for 2025, Freeman said: “Very unlikely, unfortunately, I’m glad that Kevin got to come back and drive some better cars for Haas than he had before he fell off the F1 grid the first time.

“But I don’t see a space for him beyond this year.”

Freeman’s colleague Edd Straw added: “Yeah, I think his future will lie elsewhere.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship

Nico Hulkenberg backed Kevin Magnussen to stay at Haas

Although Nico Hulkenberg and Magnussen didn’t always see eye to eye before becoming Haas teammates, they’ve become a very potent partnership on track.

The pair had a confrontation after the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix when Magnussen forced Hulkenberg off the track, leading to the German calling his future teammate, ‘the most unsporting driver on the grid’.

However, Magnussen’s aggressive tactics this season have earned Hulkenberg several points-scoring finishes although the Dane is also nearing a one-race ban as a result.

Hulkenberg backed Magnussen to retain his Haas seat earlier in the season before Ocon was confirmed.

Theoretically, the pair could be reunited at Sauber next season as Hulkenberg’s teammate still hasn’t been confirmed.

However, Magnussen may already have other plans for when what’s likely to be his last season in Formula 1 comes to an end.