Maldonado out, Magnussen in for Renault
Pastor Maldonado left the Renault team before the start of 2016 Formula 1 season and will be replaced with Kevin Magnussen.
The 30-year-old Venezuelan driver lost his seat in the new team after the sponsors failed to make the contracted payments, so Renault decided to terminate the contract. Maldonado entered F1 in 2011 as the reigning GP2 champion. During his spell in Formula 1, Maldonado scored one victory, at Spanish Grand Prix in 2012 when he was a Williams driver, but he will be remembered for his involvement in numerous race accidents.
“Today with the biggest humility I inform you that I won’t be on the grid at the start of the 2016 season. Thanks for all the messages of support, passion and concerns about my future,” commented Maldonado.
Kevin Magnussen
New chance for Magnussen
The 23-year-old Dane Kevin Magnussen will jump into the empty seat of Renault team, just in time to get ready for the pre-season tests in Barcelona. He was 11th in the Drivers’ championship with McLaren in 2014, before making way for Fernando Alonso in the last season. Magnussen’s appointment is yet to be officially confirmed.
Now Manor F1 remains the only team which still hasn’t named drivers line-up for the following season.
