Kevin Magnussen says he is returning to F1 with a point to prove after being officially confirmed as a driver for Renaults new works team in 2016.As expected, the 23-year-old former McLaren driver was unveiled alongside Briton Jolyon Palmer at Renaults launch event in Paris on Wednesday, after Pastor Maldonados contract was ended when the Venezuelans backers fell behind with payments.Magnussen had been facing at least a year in the F1 wilderness after being dropped as reserve driver by McLaren at the end of last season. However, the Dane is now delighted to be back on the grid - particularly with such an established F1 manufacturer. Its come out of the blue a little bit, its been a bit of a surprise to be back with such a strong company, but I cant wait to get back in the car, Magnussen told Sky Sports News HQ.Its an incredible feeling and it means so much. Its not only a Formula 1 drive but its a top drive. Renault Sport will be fighting for world championships in the future, it might have a build-up phase, but theyre here to win and thats a goal I share. I cant believe Im now a part of it. Magnussen joined new team-mate Jolyon Palmer to pull the wraps off Renaults 2016 car Having originally joined McLarens young driver programme in 2010, Magnussen was promoted to a race seat in 2014 and made a spectacular start to his F1 career when he finished second at his first race in Australia - the best result for a debutant in 18 years.However, the youngsters form proved inconsistent thereafter and he finished the year with less than half of team-mate Jenson Buttons points, although the pair were more closely matched in qualifying. Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here. The arrival of Fernando Alonso meant Magnussen dropped down to a reserve role for 2015, and although he did fill in for a recuperating Spaniard at the first race in Australia, his car broke down on the way to the grid and he did not take the start.With GP2 champion Stoffel Vandoorne also on their books, McLaren decided not to renew Magnussens contract - delivering the news to the Dane via email on his birthday.Hopefully Ill prove many points. Im extremely motivated after a whole year away, he said. Magnussen finished second on his F1 debut in Melbourne in 2014 - the best debut result since Jacques Villeneuve in 1996 Ive been sitting on the sideline during the races for so many weekends and Im hungry to come back and prove my worth. Ive raced my whole life and Im extremely hungry and keen to get in a race car again and even more so with Renault Sport!Although Magnussen has not raced since November 2014, he believes the fitness training he was able to complete throughout last year means he is physically ready for a full F1 return. And despite his relative youth, he reckons he has a lot to offer Renault.I have a lot to give, he added. Ive been connected to a top Formula 1 team for five years and three of those were in Formula 1 in driving and testing capacities. Despite just one season racing, Ive got good experience. I cant wait to get started at a great project such as a Renault factory team. Im pleased to be a part of it.Not many drivers get a second chance in F1. I was looking at other things because there was a chance I would not be back in F1. Looking back at that compared where Ive ended up is pretty cool. I have to thank Renault for giving me this opportunity. Kevin Magnussens F1 record Grand Prix appearances 20 Race starts 19 Podiums 1 Points finishes 12 Best result 2nd (2014 Australian GP) Best qualifying 4th (x2) Best championship finish 11th, 55 points (2014) The first Barcelona test starts on Monday February 22 and the Sky Sports F1 Digital team will be providing live commentary from dawn until dusk on all four days of both Barcelona tests while Sky Sports News HQ will also deliver live updates from trackside.Also See:Renault launch 2016 carMaldonado leaves Renault and F1Moises Alou Jersey . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. Alex Fernandez Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/961r-mark-kotsay-jersey-marlins.html . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Kurt Miller Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. John Cangelosi Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers.ASHBURN, Va. -- Fending off questions about Washingtons worst-in-the-NFL third down defense, Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry brought the subject back to the basics.The bottom line is points, he said.Give up fewer points than you score is the name of the game, Barry contended, and his defense has been able to do that in the most crucial situations this season. Six out of seven times the Redskins kept an opponent from taking the lead late in the fourth quarter or overtime, a major reason theyre still in the playoff race with three games left.Coach Jay Gruden preaches `master the situation all the time, linebacker Mason Foster said. He challenges us each and every week to master the situations and when we do a good job at it, we usually get the `W. When we mess it up or break down in those situations we usually lose. ... We know what it takes.With a showdown against Cam Newton and the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers (5-8) on Monday night, the Redskins (7-5-1) would like to improve their defense on third down, which now ranks 31st in the league, and in the red zone, which is 29th. Those are situations Gruden and Barry would also love to master.But late-game stops have become a hallmark of Washingtons defense, which faltered only in a loss to Detroit when Barry and the coaching staff rushed three against Matt Stafford and the Lions. The defense held in twice tie against the Cincinnati Bengals and once each in victories over the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.Questions about the defense getting the necessary stop were so pointed that some wondered if running back Chris Thompson shouldve taken a knee at the 1-yard line Sunday in Philadelphia to run out the clock rather than scoring a touchdown and putting the Eagles offense back on the field. Carson Wentz led the beginnings of a game-winning drive before a sack fumble by linebacker Ryan Kerrigan as the Redskins showed once again they could deliver with the game on thhe line.ddddddddddddThey played good when it mattered and thats important, Gruden said. Overall our defense hung in there, stuck with the plan and made plays when they had to.Players said the message in the huddle late in the Eagles game was about personal responsibility. The already-depleted defense was missing linebackers Will Compton (knee) and Sua Cravens (elbow) and safety Will Blackmon (concussion), who could be out again Monday against Carolina.Cornerback Josh Norman, who was an All-Pro last year with the Panthers, wants the Redskins to display an edge in late-game situations.At the end of the day you just got to have that `want to in you, Norman said. When a guy crosses your face and you tell him that, `Youre not going to beat me and if he does, theres going to be a problem. If you do get a penalty for being aggressive, at least it was an aggressive penalty. It wasnt like they dont run over you. No, smack them in the mouth.Smacking the ball out of opponents hands has been a strength of the defense, which ranks sixth with 22 forced fumbles. Only recovering seven before Kerrigans game-saving play was a point of contention, especially as Gruden pointed to a lack of forcing turnovers as a reason for back-to-back losses at Dallas and Arizona.Even those were decided by one score, which 10 of the Redskins 13 games have been. Thats the epitome of situational football for a defense thats accustomed to things being close down to the wire.Our team has been in all types of game situations where we have to come back as an offense or make a stop on defense, defensive end Chris Baker said. It does help our confidence, but we would like to try to blow a team out every now and then so that it is not so stressful for us.---AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '