McLaren has dropped Kevin Magnussen as its reserve driver after failing to find a way to fit the Dane into its future plans.
Magnussen raced for McLaren last year alongside Jenson Button, but the arrival of Fernando Alonso at the team over the winter saw him dropped to a reserve driver role. He took part in the opening grand prix of the season when Alonso was recovering from a concussion, but no further opportunities have arisen and the team has now decided not to keep Magnussen for another year.
"When the date of McLaren's option on me passed, I was kind of waiting to hear from them," Magnussen told Motorpsort.com. "I didn't hear anything for a few days, and then, after about a week, when I saw an email from Ron's [Dennis] personal assistant Justine [Bowen] in my inbox, I had an idea of what it might be. It was a short paragraph explaining that there would be nothing for me in the future. It arrived on my birthday, actually."
Much of the grid is already set for the 2016 season, but Magnussen could be in the running for a Renault drive when the French manufacturer completes its deal to takeover Lotus. The Dane says he is determined to remain in Formula One.
"I've had good talks with a number of Formula One teams, and some of them are still going on. So I have chances there. Formula One is still my aim. My ambitions haven't changed. I know how to win races, I know how to win championships and I still intend to be Formula One world champion. That won't change."