Kevin Magnussen says Renault’s lack of commitment towards him was the main factor in his decision to turn down an offer to stay with the team.
Having already confirmed the signing of Nico Hulkenberg from Force India, Renault opted to keep their options open to decide who would partner the German.
Magnussen, who joined the Enstone-Based outfit at the start of the year, was in the fray for the second seat but eventually put his future in his own hands.
Asked if it was his choice to depart Renault, the Dane said: “It was my decision.
“I had an offer but not a good enough offer that I could take it.”
It’s understood that Magnussen was offered a one-year deal to stay with the French squad but the 24-year-old felt the deal wasn’t the stability he was looking for to secure his future in F1.
“It was more the feeling of commitment from Renault’s side really,” he added. “If they had committed to a longer contract I would probably have looked at it much more seriously.
“It was more the feeling of them not committing, taking so long and offering the drive to so many drivers.
“I think at one point, the Pope had an offer I heard! It was a bit messy so better for me to leave.”
“It really is a lot about the feeling I had with the management here. If I had felt more commitment and decisiveness then it would maybe have been different. But I am happy with the way it turned out at the end of the day.”
Magnussen is now expected to sign a two-year contract with the Haas Formula One team to partner Romain Grosjean in 2017.
