Kevin Magnussen began his racing career in karting and joined the McLaren young driver program in 2010 at the age of 18. After winning the Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship in 2013, he was promoted to a full-time Formula One seat with McLaren for the 2014 season. At the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Magnussen delivered a remarkable performance to finish third on the road, which was later promoted to second following a post-race disqualification. In doing so, he became the first Danish driver to stand on an F1 podium—an achievement even his father Jan had not attained.

In 2015, Magnussen was moved to a reserve driver role following the arrival of Fernando Alonso. That season marked the return of Honda power to Formula One with the new McLaren Honda partnership. At the Australian Grand Prix, Magnussen was called upon at short notice to replace Alonso, who was sidelined due to injuries from a pre-season testing crash. However, a technical issue during the reconnaissance lap prevented him from starting the race.

Magnussen returned to a full-time race seat in 2016 with Renault, and in 2017 he joined Haas, then only in its second year of Formula One competition. At Haas, he established himself as a core member of the team. In 2018, he finished ninth in the drivers’ standings, playing a major role in Haas securing fifth place in the constructors’ championship. Despite these contributions, Magnussen lost his seat at the end of the 2020 season due to team circumstances.

Following his departure from Formula One, Magnussen competed in the IMSA series in the United States, where he claimed race victories and demonstrated his competitiveness outside F1. In early 2022, just weeks before the season opener, he was unexpectedly called back to Haas. Despite minimal preparation, he finished fifth at the Bahrain Grand Prix, showcasing his exceptional adaptability. Later that season, at the São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying session, Magnussen perfectly judged rapidly changing weather conditions to secure his maiden pole position—also the first pole in Haas’ history. The moment became one of the most dramatic and memorable highlights in recent Formula One history. He continued to support the team with experienced and committed performances before parting ways with Haas at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

From 2025 onward, Magnussen has fully transitioned to endurance racing, competing as part of a factory team in major endurance series, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.