Kevin Magnussen facts for kids

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Kevin Magnussen

Magnussen in 2019

Born

Kevin Jan Magnussen

5 October 1992 (age 32)

Roskilde, Zealand, Denmark

Spouse(s)

Louise Gjørup

(m. 2019)

Children

Parent(s)

Jan Magnussen (father)

Relatives

Dennis Lind (cousin)

FIA World Endurance Championship career

Debut season

2025

Current team

BMW M Team WRT

Racing licence

FIA Platinum

Former teams

High Class

Starts

Championships

Wins

Podiums

Poles

Fastest laps

Formula One World Championship career

Nationality

Danish

Active years

2014–2020, 2022–2024

Teams

McLaren, Renault, Haas

Car number

Entries

187 (185 starts)

Championships

Wins

Podiums

Career points

202

Pole positions

Fastest laps

First entry

2014 Australian Grand Prix

Last entry

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2024 position

15th (16 pts)

IndyCar Series career

1 race run over 1 year

Best finish

42nd (2021)

First race

2021 REV Group Grand Prix at Road America (Road America)

Wins	Podiums	Poles
0	0	0

Previous series

2012–2013
2011
2010
2009
2009
2008
2008

Formula Renault 3.5
British F3
German F3
Formula Renault NEC
Formula Renault Eurocup
ADAC Formel Masters
Danish FFord

Championship titles

2013
2008

Formula Renault 3.5
Danish FFord

Awards

2022

Lorenzo Bandini Trophy

Kevin Jan Magnussen (born 5 October 1992), often called K-Mag, is a Danish racing driver. He currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for WRT and the IMSA SportsCar Championship for RLL. He is a factory driver for BMW. Magnussen also raced in Formula One, the highest class of international racing, from 2014 to 2024.

Born in Roskilde, Denmark, Kevin is the son of Jan Magnussen, a famous racing driver himself. Kevin started his racing journey in 2008. He quickly showed his talent by winning the Danish Formula Ford Championship that same year. He then moved up through different junior racing series, winning the Formula Renault 3.5 championship in 2013.

Kevin joined McLaren in Formula One in 2014. He made a fantastic debut, finishing second in his very first race. After a year as a reserve driver, he raced for Renault in 2016. From 2017 to 2020, he competed with the Haas team. He returned to Haas in 2022 and even achieved a rare pole position, meaning he started a race from the very front. He left Formula One at the end of the 2024 season. Magnussen is now focusing on sportscar racing with BMW.

Early Life and Family

Kevin Jan Magnussen was born on 5 October 1992 in Roskilde, Denmark. His father, Jan Magnussen, was also a Formula One driver. Kevin's cousin, Dennis Lind, and his half-brother, Luca Magnussen, are also involved in racing.

In 2019, Kevin married Louise Gjørup. They have two daughters, born in 2021 and 2023. The family lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Junior Racing Career

Starting in Karting

Kevin Magnussen began his racing career in karting. This is where many young drivers learn the basics of racing.

Moving to Lower Racing Series

In 2008, Kevin moved up to Formula Ford in Denmark. He was very successful, winning 11 out of 15 races and becoming the champion. He also took part in some races in the ADAC Formel Masters series.

For a short time in 2009, Kevin had to stop racing and work as a factory welder. This was because he didn't have enough money to continue his racing career. Luckily, he soon found sponsorship and returned to racing.

In 2009, he joined Formula Renault 2.0. He finished second in the Northern European Cup and seventh in the Eurocup.

Racing in Formula Three

In 2010, Kevin competed in the German Formula Three Championship. He won three races and finished third overall, also earning the "rookie" title for best new driver.

In 2011, he moved to the British Formula 3 International Series. He won seven races and finished second in the championship, right behind his teammate. He also competed in the Masters of Formula 3 race, finishing third.

Success in Formula Renault 3.5

Magnussen racing in 2012

In 2012, Magnussen moved to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. He won one race and finished seventh in the championship. He continued in the series in 2013, which was a very successful year for him. He won five races, had eight other podium finishes (top three), and started from pole position eight times. He became the champion of the series, showing he was ready for bigger challenges.

Formula One Career

Kevin Magnussen was part of the McLaren Young Driver Programme from 2010 to 2013. This program helps young drivers prepare for Formula One. He first drove a Formula One car in a test in 2012, where he impressed the McLaren team.

Racing for McLaren (2014–2015)

Magnussen at the 2014 British Grand Prix

Kevin joined McLaren as a full-time driver for the 2014 Formula One season. He chose car number 20, the same number he had when he won the Formula Renault 3.5 championship.

His first race in Australia was amazing. He qualified fourth and finished third, but was later moved up to second place after another driver was disqualified. This made him the first rookie (new driver) since 1996 to finish second in their first Grand Prix. Throughout 2014, he scored points in many races, often finishing in the top ten.

In 2015, Kevin became McLaren's test and reserve driver. He raced in one Grand Prix, the Australian season-opener, but his car had an engine problem before the race even started. He left McLaren at the end of 2015.

Time with Renault (2016)

Magnussen at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix

In 2016, Kevin joined the Renault team, which was returning to Formula One. His season had some challenges, including several crashes and mechanical problems. However, he managed to finish seventh in the Russian Grand Prix, which was Renault's best result that year. He scored points again in Singapore. He finished the season in 16th place.

Years with Haas (2017–2020, 2022–2024)

2017 Season

Magnussen driving for Haas in 2017

Kevin signed with the Haas for the 2017 season. He scored points in his second race with the team in China. His best result that year was seventh place in Azerbaijan. He finished the season 14th in the championship.

2018 Season

Magnussen at the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix

Magnussen continued with Haas in 2018. The team's car was much better this year. He had strong finishes, including two fifth places in Bahrain and Austria. He also set the fastest lap in the Singapore Grand Prix, which was a first for him and the Haas team. He finished the season in ninth place, his best ever result in Formula One.

2019 Season

Magnussen at the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix

In 2019, Kevin continued with Haas. The car was not as competitive as the previous year. His best finish was sixth place in Australia. He also set another fastest lap in Singapore, but didn't get a point for it because he didn't finish in the top ten. He ended the season in 16th place.

2020 Season

Magnussen raced for Haas again in 2020. It was a tough season for the team. He managed to score one point by finishing tenth in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Kevin and his teammate left Haas at the end of the 2020 season.

2022: Return to Formula One

Magnussen at the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix

Kevin Magnussen made a surprise return to Haas in 2022. He replaced another driver just before the season started. In his first race back in Bahrain, he finished fifth, which was a great comeback. He continued to score points in several races.

A big moment came at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix. Magnussen achieved his first ever pole position in Formula One, meaning he started the main race from the very front of the grid. This was also the first pole position for the Haas team.

2023 Season

Magnussen at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix

In 2023, Magnussen partnered with Nico Hülkenberg at Haas. The car was challenging to drive, especially with managing the tires. Kevin scored points three times, finishing tenth in Saudi Arabia, Miami, and Singapore. He finished 19th in the championship.

2024: Final Formula One Season

Magnussen at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix

Magnussen and Hülkenberg continued with Haas for the 2024 season. He scored points in Australia and Austria. During the season, he announced he would leave Haas at the end of the year. He had to miss the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to accumulating too many penalty points, which is like getting too many warnings for rule breaking. He finished his Formula One career at the end of 2024.

Test Driver Role (2025)

For 2025, Kevin Magnussen will continue to be involved with the Haas team as a test driver. He will also work as a simulator driver for Toyota.

Sportscar Racing Career

Racing in 2021

In 2021, Magnussen competed in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the USA. He drove a Cadillac DPi car and won his first race at the Detroit Grand Prix. He finished the season with four podium finishes.

He also raced in the famous 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race with his father, Jan Magnussen.

Racing in 2022

Kevin was part of the driver lineup for Peugeot Sport in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship season. However, he left these contracts when he returned to Formula One with Haas.

Later in 2022, he raced alongside his father Jan at the Gulf 12 Hours race in Abu Dhabi, finishing seventh.

Racing in 2025

Magnussen driving a Cadillac DPi-V.R at Watkins Glen in 2021

In late 2024, BMW M Motorsport announced that Magnussen would become a factory driver for their LMDh program. His first race with BMW was the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where his team finished fourth. He is expected to race more with BMW in 2025.

IndyCar Career

Racing in 2021

Magnussen at the 2021 Grand Prix of Road America

In June 2021, Kevin Magnussen raced in one IndyCar Series event, the Grand Prix of Road America. He filled in for an injured driver but had to retire from the race due to mechanical problems.

Racing Achievements

Kevin Magnussen has had a successful career in various racing series. Here are some of his key achievements:

Season	Series	Team	Races	Wins	Poles	Podiums	Position
2008	Danish Formula Ford Championship	Fukamuni Racing	15	11	6	12	1st
2009	Formula Renault 2.0 NEC	Motopark Academy	14	1	2	12	2nd
2010	German Formula 3 Championship	Motopark Academy	18	3	0	8	3rd
2011	British Formula 3 Championship	Carlin	29	7	6	9	2nd
2013	Formula Renault 3.5 Series	DAMS	17	5	8	13	1st
2014	Formula One	McLaren Mercedes	19	0	0	1	11th
2018	Formula One	Haas F1 Team	21	0	0	0	9th
2021	IMSA SportsCar Championship - DPI	Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing	10	1	1	5	7th
2022	Formula One	Haas F1 Team	22	0	1	0	13th