Nico Hulkenberg, who is set to join Sauber next season, believes his current teammate Kevin Magnussen should "definitely" still be considered for a spot at Haas in 2025.
On-form Hulkenberg, who will be moving to Sauber as they gear up for their 2026 transition to a works Audi team, has often outperformed the 31-year-old Danish driver Magnussen since they were first paired together last year.
Despite their past competitive encounters on the track and personal animus, they have developed a friendly rapport since being paired at Haas.
With growing speculation that Haas plans to replace Magnussen with Esteban Ocon starting in 2025, Hulkenberg expressed his opinion that Magnussen deserves a chance to stay.
"Definitely," he commented, as reported by the Ekstra Bladet newspaper.
Obviously it's not my responsibility or decision, but I think Kevin has also been very consistent this year," Hulkenberg remarked.
"There have been some moments and sessions where really small details have made the difference between him and me. Often the outcome on TV looks massive, but in reality it's really small things. I think he's doing a really good job," Hulkenberg, aged 36, continued.
"And I have access to much more data and can see exactly what has happened on his side. I still think he's a candidate here, but maybe also for other teams."
Meanwhile, Magnussen appears to be exploring potential avenues beyond Formula 1, possibly in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) or Indycar, as indicated by his recent statements.
Magnussen's reputation as a 'bad boy', marked by his assertive driving and a potentially-looming one-race suspension due to accumulating super license points, has recently been highlighted. Additionally, recent signs suggest growing friction between him and Haas's new team leader, Ayao Komatsu.
"In Formula 1, we know that you are only as good as your last race," Magnussen noted at Silverstone. "Things are quickly forgotten and the perception of a driver can change very quickly. That's just how F1 is," he added.
While agreeing with Hulkenberg about his potential future in F1, Magnussen is also pragmatically considering what might come next.
"This is what most of us have dreamed of since we were children," Magnussen said. "Regardless of what people say, Formula 1 is the dream of most young drivers. When you're here, it's fantastic and a great opportunity. If you get the chance, take it.
"But I've also had experiences outside of F1 that were amazing. Whatever happens, I'm pretty relaxed," he concluded. body check tags ::
