Kevin Magnussen faces the very real prospect of a Formula 1 race ban this season and that only adds to the increasing risk to his place on the grid with Haas longer-term.
The combative, all-or-nothing Dane has racked up an eye-watering 10 licence penalty points in just six events this season, meaning he needs to complete the rest of 2024 without accruing two more – or he will get an automatic one-race suspension.
In such circumstances Haas would replace him with its reserve driver and Ferrari protege Ollie Bearman, who looks destined to join this team on a full-time basis sooner or later.
Bearman’s presence was an obvious threat to Magnussen when the young Briton’s expanded role was announced, although the pressure for Magnussen to save his seat looked to be reduced slightly in light of Nico Hulkenberg’s now-confirmed move to Sauber next season.
“Naturally that increases Kevin’s chances,” team principal Ayao Komatsu said going into the Miami weekend, “but we need somebody who can be a reference for the team.”
At the moment Komatsu is not convinced Magnussen can be that.
A Magnussen/Bearman pairing seemed entirely plausible, blending youth with experience, but it is not a given that Magnussen will be retained.
It is understood he must do more to win over Komatsu and his Miami antics have not helped that cause, even though Magnussen professed the worst of his incidents and penalty points came as a result of playing the team game.
Magnussen played rear gunner in the Miami sprint as team-mate Hulkenberg ran in a strong point-scoring seventh. But he crossed the line in the eyes of the stewards, and just as importantly Haas, when his aggressively defensive driving went beyond merely backing Lewis Hamilton up and turned into routine flouting of the rules to desperately stay ahead.
LAP 15 / 19
Magnussen goes off, delaying Hamilton and Tsunoda pounces to take what will eventually become P8!