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McLaren reserve Kevin Magnussen determined to stay in F1

Dane thinks Alonso and Button will stay put but says other F1 teams have "reached out" to him; Racing director Eric Boullier says they have a "luxury problem" to solve

Kevin Magnussen insists he won’t spend another year on McLaren’s subs' bench and claims that other F1 teams have “reached out” to him if he’s unable to land a race seat there next season.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 at the Italian GP on Friday, the McLaren reserve said he'd naturally be happy to step up again should either Fernando Alonso or Jenson Button leave the team.

But the Dane thinks that McLaren's line-up will stay the same next season, meaning that both Magnussen and their other young driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, would have to look elsewhere.

Newcomers Haas and Manor have been suggested as possible destinations; but wherever he ends up, the 22-year-old says it has to be a race drive.

"I need to find myself a drive," Magnussen said. "I want to race; I'm not prepared to sit around another year.

"I'm totally focused on getting a Formula 1 drive, and nothing else, and I'm glad to say that a number of Formula 1 teams have reached out to me.

"I'm with McLaren now, and McLaren remains a very exciting team for me to race for, but, if there isn't a race drive vacancy at McLaren, then of course I want to drive for one of the other Formula 1 teams that have reached out to me."

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With few F1 seats now left open for next season, Magnussen admits that difficult choices might have to be made should he get an offer while McLaren ponder their own decision.

"I'm still waiting to see what's going to happen at McLaren. It looks like they're going to stay with the driver line-up as it is; if not, then obviously I'd be happy to take the vacancy," he said.

"I'm contracted to McLaren and committed to them. I'm constantly talking to [McLaren boss] Ron [Dennis] and pushing him to tell me what's going on. And I'm sure Ron will know at some point and tell me.

"When that time comes, I'll make a decision."

Kevin Magnussen in talks with McLaren boss Eric Boullier
Image: Magnussen in talks with McLaren boss Eric Boullier

Magnussen raced for McLaren last season and the suggestion is that Dennis also wanted him in the team again this year instead of Button.

Instead, the 2009 champion kept his seat alongside Alonso but McLaren waited until December last year before finally announcing their line-up.

Speaking later, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier admitted that, as problems go, the team have a nice one to try and solve.

"We expect the four of them to race [in F1]. As far as we are concerned, McLaren have two race seats and two world champions – and we do intend to keep them, so far," he said.

"Nevertheless, it's a luxury problem to have four good drivers. Kevin and Stoffel are very good drivers and we expect both of them to race in Formula 1.

"If we can't fit or accommodate them at home, we'll do our best to make sure they can race next year."

Esteban Gutierrez: Ferrari reserve 2015
Image: Esteban Gutierrez: Linked to the new Haas team

Meanwhile, also on Friday, Ferrari reserve Esteban Gutierrez did nothing to dispel rumours linking him with a seat at Haas next year.

The American team's car will rely heavily on Ferrari technology – including engine and drivetrain – and the Mexican has long been spoken of as a potential driver.

"At the moment, I have to say that it's not a secret that I want to get back racing, first of all," Gutierrez told Sky Sports F1. "Secondly, I am very committed to Ferrari; Ferrari is helping me a lot to find the best solution to get back on the grid.

"I guess it's requiring some patience, but hopefully some good news can come soon."

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