McLaren have confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will partner Jenson Button in 2014.

This follows Sergio Perez’s announcement that he will be leaving the team at the end of the 2013 season.

The 21 year old Magnussen won the Formula Renault 3.5 Series this season and tested for McLaren in Abu Dhabi last year and at Silverstone earlier this season.

“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 [Whitmarsh] and his senior colleagues, for giving me this chance. I won’t let you down, guys!”

Magnussen also said that Jenson Button would be the ideal team mate for him, “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.”

Martin Whitmarsh added that McLaren were delighted to have Magnussen on board for 2014. “We’re delighted that Kevin will be joining Jenson as a McLaren Formula 1 race driver for 2014,” he said.

“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.”

He also sang Magnussen’s praises saying, “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.”

Whitmarsh also thanked Perez for his contribution to the team in 2013.

“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.”

Perez’s future remains uncertain at this point in time. He has said that he had no idea that McLaren would not be keeping him on and as such it’s going to be difficult for him to now secure a drive at this late point in the season.