Magnussen looks forward to working with Hülkenberg: 'I respect him'

Kevin Magnussen has indicated he is open to both Nico Hülkenberg and Mick Schumacher as team-mates next year, reports Motorsport.com. Magnussen and Hülkenberg have clashed in the past, but according to the Dane, that is now far behind them both.

Haas is the latest team yet to confirm the driver duo for next season. Magnussen was sure of a seat from the start, but who should be his teammate is still unclear. Antonio Giovinazzi was seen as a contender, but that seems to have evaporated by now. So at the moment it is between Hülkenberg and Schumacher, although there were doubts about how well Hülkenberg and Magnussen would get along as teammates.

The two men were protagonists in one of Formula 1's most infamous confrontations in recent years. At the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, Magnussen pushed Hülkenberg - who was then driving for Renault - off the track, for which he received a time penalty. Had Hülkenberg not swerved out, it probably would have ended in a crash. After the race, Hülkenberg broke into an interview Magnussen gave to call him "the most unsporting driver on the grid." Magnussen's response was short and clear: "Suck my b***s, mate."

The row is now behind them

By now that confrontation is already five years old and, according to Magnussen, there is no lingering rancour between the two drivers. Responding to a question about whether he was comfortable driving with Hülkenberg at a team, Magnussen waved away those concerns and indicated that he has no preference as to who should be his teammate.

"I have said it more than once: I have no problem with Nico. I respect him as a driver, but otherwise I don't really know him. I wouldn't have a problem with it. I have no opinion on who should be in the other car anyway. Mick is doing well at the moment. He had some problems and crashes at the beginning of the year, but he has definitely become faster."