JULY 22, 2013

Magnussen hopes for 2014 F1 debut

Kevin Magnussen has admitted he wants to make his formula one debut in 2014.

The 20-year-old Dane, whose father is the former F1 driver Jan Magnussen, is a leading figure in McLaren's driver development programme.

He impressed in the Woking based team's 2013 car last week, topping the times at Silverstone as he spent Wednesday at the 'young driver test'.

But McLaren's 2014 driver lineup seems locked up, as Jenson Button has vowed to stay put, and Mexican Sergio Perez will surely get another chance.

"My goal is to compete in F1 as early as 2014," Magnussen told Italy's Italiaracing.

"If I can't do it with McLaren, we'll try it with another team," he added.

"That wouldn't mean that the relationship with McLaren is affected, as there are other similar situations in F1 that are going smoothly."

Magnussen was surely referring to Jules Bianchi, who made his grand prix debut this year with Marussia, despite featuring in Ferrari's driver 'academy'.

(GMM)