Magnussen breaks hand in bike fall

Editor

McLaren reserve driver Kevin Magnussen will not travel to Singapore for this weekend's grand prix after breaking his hand.

The Dane, who turned out at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in place of Fernando Alonso, suffered the injury in a cycling accident.

“Broke my hand after falling off my bicycle. Better stick to four wheels," the 22-year-old wrote on Twitter.

McLaren confirmed Magnussen's injury, but made assurances that it was not a serious one.

“Kevin has been training extensively on his bicycle over the past few weeks and months, but unfortunately he fell off it the other day. He has sustained a small fracture in his left hand, but is expected to make a full recovery within the next three weeks or so," a team spokesman said.

The news comes as speculation mounts that Magnussen will secure a drive with Haas F1 next season. Magnussen was replaced by Alonso for the current campaign after spending a season alongside Jenson Button, and is eager to get back onto the grid.

However, despite reports to the contrary, McLaren's option on the youngster has not lapsed.

A team spokesman has been quoted as telling Pitpass: "We at McLaren never provide details of our drivers' contracts, but we can confirm that recent media reports to the effect that we have allowed our current contractual option on Kevin Magnussen to lapse are inaccurate.

"Eric Boullier has said that we would not stand in Kevin's way if the possibility that he might be offered a race drive with another team were to arise, that is all."