McLaren has (finally) announced that Kevin Magnussen will join Jenson Button for 2014 - the Englishman's fifth year with the Woking squad.

As McLaren gears up for the new season, which will see considerable technical change as it embarks on a new era, using 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines and a more dynamic energy recovery and deployment system, 33-year-old Button's lengthy experience and technical understanding will be very important assets as the team starts its 2014 challenge, backed by the talent, promise and enthusiasm of his 21-year-old team-mate, who recently won this year's World Series by Renault 3.5 Championship.

"I'm absolutely overjoyed to be making my Formula 1 debut with McLaren," said Magnussen. "I'll put it simply: this team is the best. It's been my dream to drive for McLaren ever since I was a small kid, and it's no exaggeration to say that I've dedicated almost every day of my life to achieving the goal of becoming a McLaren Formula 1 driver.

"I have an enormous amount of respect for everyone at McLaren, and I want to say a massive 'thank you' to everyone, but most of all to Martin and his senior colleagues, for giving me this chance. I won't let you down, guys!

"Equally, in Jenson, I have absolutely the ideal team-mate. He's extremely quick, obviously, but he's also very experienced and superbly capable from a technical perspective. He's a Formula 1 world champion, which is what one day I also hope to become, and I'm determined to learn as much as I can from him."

"We're delighted that Kevin will be joining Jenson as a McLaren driver for 2014," said Martin Whitmars. "Their confirmation is an important step for us as we continue to strengthen our organisation ahead of the 2014 season.

"Next year, we'll witness the biggest raft of technical changes to Formula 1 in many years, and every team and manufacturer will be pushed to the limit as they try their best to adapt to those new challenges.

"Jenson's race-winning speed, intelligence and racecraft have long been a crucial advantage to McLaren, but it's his skill as a development driver and his peerless technical feedback that will be equally valuable as we make the transition into a new and complex technical formula during the winter and new year.

"Kevin, too, is clearly very talented and very determined, and we therefore have high hopes for him. Moreover, every time he's tested our Formula 1 car, he's been very quick and very methodical, and his feedback has been first-class.

"Furthermore, the manner in which he won this year's World Series by Renault 3.5 Championship was truly outstanding, showcasing as it did not only his impressive natural pace but also his increasing maturity and ability to structure and manage a championship campaign.

"Last but very far from least, I want to take this opportunity to thank Checo, who has developed well during a difficult season, as his recent run of points-scoring finishes underlines. He's a lovely guy and a fine driver - fast and combative - and I'm sure he'll build on that firm foundation in 2014. All at McLaren wish him well for the future."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by JackTheCat, 14/11/2013 15:21

"Maria doesn't like anyone very much :-)

Let's hope this guy is better than his father otherwise they will be wishing Perez was back in the car. Let's also hope thye build a decent car as Button cannot do anything with a car not 100% to his liking and who knows about this new chap..... it could be a real car crash of a season that makes their 2013 season look wonderful if they don't get everything right! "

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2. Posted by White Lightning, 14/11/2013 14:39

"I'm guessing - and this is just a hunch here, call it gut instinct - that Maria doesn't like Sergio Perez very much..."

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3. Posted by Maria, 14/11/2013 14:32

"Good decision from Mclaren. There will be lots of complaints now from people about how Mclaren supposedly ruined Perez. Well Mclaren gave him the chance to improve consistency. Perez was an is till highly inconsistent. He is not blowing Button away like the hype claimed before he drove a Mclaren for the first time. Perez was a mistake from the start but Perez should be glad he even got that shot that many would dream of driving for free, he couldn't hold on to it. This is a tough sport. You seize what you get."

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4. Posted by White Lightning, 14/11/2013 14:30

"So it's come to this. I obviously wish Kevin well in his rookie year, but that McLaren should basically be reliving the best bits of 1993-6 is disheartening.

Seems to be a correlation between worldbeating supercars and absolute dogs on the track in Woking."

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Official: Magnussen confirmed at McLaren for 2014

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