Why Magnussen to Mercedes makes sense!

By Joe Murphy

At first glance, this might seem like one of those scenario’s that are never going to happen. Much like Tsunoda winning a world title of Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari. As proven by the latter coming to fruition last week, anything can happen in the world of Formula 1. Therefore, this move actually starts to make sense, if you think about it.

Magnussen is available at the end of 2024. No contracts need buying out and there isn’t going to be a huge fee. He will literally be a free agent at the time they need him.

He is also younger than a lot of other veterans being considered. You’d get more longevity out of K-Mag than out of Fernando Alonso or a returning Kimi Raikkonen, for example.

Another reason is that he is, by comparison, extremely cheap. By signing someone like Magnussen, not only are you pushing George Russell into your number one driver, something bound to happen anyway at some point soon, but you are getting an experienced racer next to him who costs much less than Lewis does currently. At a time where cost saving and spending caps are aplenty, this could boost team finances that could go towards research and design.

Finally, he is also bound to say yes. Haas will be nowhere in 2024. That’s just a sad fact. So, an opportunity to compete near the front is something the Dane could not and would not turn down. Therefore, there are plenty of reasons that this move makes sense. The move is surely still unlikely. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon look like clear frontrunners. However, with Alex possibly heading to Red Bull and Carlos’ F1 future in the air, we’ve seen stranger things happen than a Mag sat in the Merc. Time will tell.