Rookie Magnussen set to replace Perez at McLaren

Wednesday, 13 November 2013 00:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: McLaren are set to replace Mexican Sergio Perez with Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen for next season, media reports said on Monday. Sources close to the Formula One team indicated the reports were accurate.

A McLaren spokesman said no deal had been signed with any driver for 2014, other than 2009 world champion Jenson Button. Magnussen, 21, is the son of former McLaren and Stewart grand prix driver Jan Magnussen and won the Formula Renault 3.5 series this year. The BBC and autosport.com websites both reported McLaren had decided to give Magnussen the drive. Team principal Martin Whitmarsh earlier told reporters that talks were still ongoing for the second seat at the former championship-winning team. “There has been a lot of honest feedback both ways, which is best done in private not in public. We’ll see in the future,” he said ahead of this weekend’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. If Magnussen is confirmed in the seat, he will be McLaren’s first rookie driver since Britain’s Lewis Hamilton made a sensational debut in 2007. He won the title the following season.