The Haas F1 Team had been keeping speculation at fever pitch the past month with the silence surrounding their 2021 F1 driver lineup. This resulted in many suggesting that the American race outfit would replace Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen in 2021. Now, today, the news has broken that this rumour is now reality. Despite the fact that there is still no confirmation as to who will drive for Haas in 2021, what is clear is that Grosjean and Magnussen won’t be.

A sequence of breaking news started with Romain Grosjean. The Frenchman who has been with Haas F1 Team since day one took to Facebook to share the news with his fans:

“The last chapter is closed and the book is finished,” he posted on Facebook. “I've been with Haas F1 Team  since day one. Five years during which we went through highs and lows, scored 110 points in 92 races, but the journey was worth it. I've learned a lot, improved to be a better driver as well as a better man. I hope I’ve also helped people in the team to improve themselves. This is probably my biggest pride, more than any of the crazy first races in 2016 or the P4 at the Austrian GP 2018. I wish the team all the best for the future.”

Mere minutes after the statement by Romain Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen announced his departure on Instagram:

"Hi everyone, The 2020 Formula 1 season will be my last with Haas F1 Team. I have had a great time with the team for four years and I look back at a great journey. Being part of a brand new team has been a challenge that I have thoroughly enjoyed and it has brought me a huge amount of experience that has helped me grow and develop as a racing driver. I would like to thank Gene, Guenther and all of the race team for their loyalty and trust in me over the past four years. I am still working on my plans for the future, which I will announce in due course There are still six races to do this season, and I am determined to give my all to finish off on a high. Thank you for all your support."

As these personal farewells were hitting the airwaves, the Haas F1 Team released their statement on www.haasf1team.com:

“Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean are set to part ways with Haas F1 Team at the conclusion of the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Grosjean has been with the American outfit since 2016 with Magnussen signing one year later – the four-year partnership currently only matched in tenure by the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.”

There are many other projects bringing interest to Romain Grosjean such as the hypercar being produced by Peugeot.

https://www.motorlat.com/notas/f1/17516/f1-grosjean-on-his-f1-future-there-aren-t-many-seats-left

For Kevin Magnussen, a possible route appears to be that of Formula One reserve driver and as Daniil Kvyat showed from his stint with Ferrari – this role can see you return to the starting grid the following year.

There are still six races for each driver to figuratively put himself in the shop window whilst also hoping to achieve the very best for their team. Meanwhile Haas F1 Team boss Guenther Steiner was full of thanks for his soon to be departing pair of drivers:

“I want to extend my thanks to both Romain and Kevin for their hard work and commitment to Haas F1 Team over the past few seasons,”

Steiner then singled out each driver and the role they have played in developing the team and what they will be remembered for:

“Romain was a fundamental part of our establishment as we sought to get a driver onboard with both speed and experience. His results in early 2016 were a just reward, not only for his own talent, but also for the sheer amount of effort the team had put in to be on the grid that season.”

“When Kevin joined a season later, we saw an immediate return with both cars scoring points, and of course, our first double points finish in Monaco that year. We have a lot of good memories together – in particular our 2018 season when we finished fifth in the standings in only our third season. Romain and Kevin played a significant part in that success.”

As the statements from the drivers mentioned, there is much racing left this season. This sentiment was echoed by Steiner as well:

“Of course, there is still plenty of racing left in the 2020 season. It’s been a challenging year, no doubt about that, but both drivers have given their all behind the wheel of the VF-20. We value their inputs and experience to keep pushing the team forward through to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.”

Based on the way the 2020 F1 season has been going and following the strong showing by Romain Grosjean last time out in Germany, it seems likely there is still one final story to be told.

For a man like Romain Grosjean who has encountered every emotion during his Grand Prix tenure, it would be fitting for there to be one last shock result. That would be the perfect way to end Grosjean’s F1 career but hopefully the Frenchman intends to race elsewhere for many years to come. Meanwhile his teammate, Kevin Magnussen, will be keen to also leave a lasting impression.

No doubt both drivers will want to finish their time with the Haas F1 Team looking like rockstars!