McLaren-Honda racing director Eric Boullier says former protégé Kevin Magnussen “should get a drive in Formula One next year”, while also insisting that the Dane “has not been fired”.
Despite an encouraging 2014 rookie campaign in, Magnussen had to step down to the role of test and reserve driver following Fernando Alonso’s return to Woking.
Having repeatedly claimed that he would not stay on the sidelines for another season, the 23-year-old parted ways with the British team in the wake of Jenson Button’s confirmation alongside Alonso for 2016.
“We as McLaren that Kevin obviously has a great talent,” said Boullier. “He has to be praised for that and he should get a drive in Formula One next year and his career should get there. Anyway he will have a successful career I’m sure.”
It soon emerged that Magnussen was let go via email on his birthday, with The Independent even claiming that the former Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion did not get the news from McLaren chairman Ron Dennis himself but from his personal assistant.
Asked to comment on the situation during Friday’s FIA press conference, Boullier replied:
“He has not been fired. I want to tell you that his contract was ending this year, so there was an option to renew it or not and we decided to not renew it for several reasons.
“As far as I am concerned by the process, I will not comment.”
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