Danish · Born 1992 · #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 · BMW M Team WRT
Kevin Magnussen spent a decade as one of Formula 1's most combative and recognizable drivers, particularly during his long tenure with the Haas F1 team. When that chapter ended in 2024, Magnussen joined BMW M Team WRT full-time for the 2025 IMSA season — bringing his raw speed and aggressive style to prototype endurance racing.
Kevin Magnussen is the son of Jan Magnussen, a Danish driver who competed in Formula 1 in the 1990s — making Kevin part of a two-generation F1 family. He made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2014, scoring a stunning podium (second place) on his debut at the Australian Grand Prix — the first driver to score a podium on debut since 2007. That immediate impact set enormous expectations.
His F1 career then took a winding path. McLaren did not retain him as a full-time driver after 2014. He had a single season with Renault in 2016. Then Haas F1 became his home — first from 2017 to 2020, then again from 2022 to 2024 when Haas dropped him to make way for other considerations.
At Haas, Magnussen became beloved by fans for his authenticity, his wheel-to-wheel aggression, and his willingness to call things as he saw them. His radio messages became legendary in F1 circles — blunt, honest, occasionally profane, always entertaining. He was never afraid of confrontation on track, earning both admiration and occasional penalties for his uncompromising style.
After his F1 career ended in 2024, Magnussen could have pursued several paths. He chose IMSA and BMW M Team WRT — drawn, reportedly, by the challenge of endurance racing and the quality of the WRT organization. The decision surprised some observers but made sense given his pace, his adaptability, and his genuine enthusiasm for the sport rather than just the prestige of a specific category.
Adapting from an F1 car to a GTP prototype requires significant adjustment. F1 cars are purpose-built single-seaters at the absolute peak of automotive engineering — lighter, lower, more aerodynamically extreme than any prototype. GTP cars are heavier, differently balanced, and require a completely different approach to traffic, braking, and energy management. Magnussen's 2025 debut season showed he adapted the transition skillfully.
Magnussen is known for a racecraft philosophy that prioritizes commitment and aggression — he is not a driver who yields willingly or backs out of battles. In endurance racing, this must be balanced with the conservatism required to protect a car across 12 hours, manage tires for long stints, and avoid incidents that can destroy a race strategy. Sebring 2026 will test whether Magnussen's instincts serve the unique demands of a 12-hour race.
Magnussen's F1 debut is one of the great first-race stories. Replacing Sergio Perez at McLaren for 2014, he qualified strongly and finished second in Australia on his very first Grand Prix start — behind only eventual champion Lewis Hamilton. Only one driver had scored a podium on debut more recently, and the performance set enormous expectations that his McLaren tenure unfortunately couldn't sustain given the team's machinery difficulties that year.
Denmark has produced very few Formula 1 drivers — making Magnussen a national hero at home. His popularity in Denmark transcends motorsport, with mainstream sports media coverage and widespread public recognition. The combination of his F1 fame and his move to IMSA has brought new Danish attention to American endurance racing.