Dane reaffirms belief he can be an F1 world champion
Monday 29 August 2016 10:44, UK
Kevin Magnussen is confident he will be retained by Renault for 2017 and believes the squad are looking for a "fast driver who can lead the team".
The Dane replaced Pastor Maldonado at the Enstone team for 2016 after their's acquisition by Renault, having spent the previous year on the sidelines after being dropped by McLaren.
Magnussen has scored all of Renault's points on their return to F1 and revealed they have an option on him for next season which is yet to be exercised.
"Renault has an option on me for 2017 and they can choose me if they want to," Magnussen told Sky Sports F1.
"That is where I am at at the moment. Unless you have a long-term contract set for many years you can never be sure in Formula 1, but I feel like I have done my best and when I look back I don't feel there is much I could have done better. No matter what happens I feel like I have done my best.
"I'm fairly positive, I am starting to look forward to next year even though I am not sure."
After what the team have described as a transitional year in 2016, Magnussen feels the team are looking for a driver who can lead them back to the glory days of winning world titles with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
"They want a fast driver who can lead the team and that is what I am trying to be," he added.
"I feel like we are happy as a team and are working well together and I feel like this could be good enough to win world championships if we spend the time and be a little bit patient.
"We know it is not going to happen next year or maybe even the year after, but if we stick together and stay positive and keep believing I think it is possible."
Before being dropped by McLaren at the end of the 2014 season Magnussen told Sky Sports F1 he felt he was going to be a world champion - a self-belief he still holds despite a chastening experience.
"I didn't expect to go through what I have over the last two years, but I have learnt a lot, it has been a strengthening experience," the Dane said.
"If I believed I could be a world champion back then I only believe it more now. My experience is better and I am a tougher person."
