Magnussen had offer to stay in F1 after Haas exit

Ousted Haas driver Kevin Magnussen says he had an offer to remain on the grid for 2021, although the proposition was made by a team "not better than Haas".

The Haas US outfit's decision to refresh its line-up for this season by contracting with F1 rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin left both Magnussen and teammate Romain Grosjean out in the cold for 2021, at least regarding F1.

However, the Dane has revealed that he was offered an opportunity to race on this season, although it anything but an enticing proposal according to the 28-year-old.

"I cannot say who it was, because I think it might make someone angry," Magnussen told Danish magazine Dossier. "It was a team that is not better than Haas, so it is not difficult to imagine."

Indeed, one would likely suppose that Magnussen was referring to Williams, although any potential deal with the Grove-based outfit may have been contingent on George Russell's early exit from the team to join Mercedes.

"Although I had a chance to stay in Formula 1, I did not have the motivation to continue that way. I would have liked to continue if I could have won with any of the big teams."

Alas, Magnussen's wish will likely remain unfulfilled as the former F1 driver has moved on to greener pastures, racing this year in the US in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Unbeknownst to many, Magnussen is actually well acquainted with the US sportscar scene, having witnessed many races in America alongside his father - four-time IMSA champion Jan Magnussen.

"I can’t say exactly how many IMSA races I went to with my father, maybe 10 or 12. But I definitely got a feel for the racing here and for a lot of the tracks," said Magnussen.

"So I was really interested in racing in America when it looked like my time in Formula 1 was ending."

• Read also: Magnussen says 'airplane' F1 lacks 'a little bit of soul'

The former Haas charger will be action next weekend at the Rolex 24 at Daytona along with CGR teammate Renger van der Zande with whom he will share the No. 01 CGR Cadillac in the DP1 class this year.

Whereas in F1 the man sitting on the other side of a team's garage is a driver's first opponent, the word teammate obviously embodies a whole different meaning in endurance racing.

"In Formula 1, your biggest opponent is your teammate," he says. "The best way to advance to one of the top teams is to beat your teammate, so you do not want to help him in case by helping him you will hurt your career.

"This is different. I’m really enjoying working with Renger and Scott.

"If you have questions or if they see something that can make you better, make you faster, they will do their best to help you. The same goes for me. It’s a real team effort."

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