Stoffel Vandoorne was one of F1’s greatest hopes when he arrived as a starter at McLaren F1. The Belgian, who had crushed F2, however started in an English team in complete discomfiture.
For two years, in 2017 and 2018, he was outrageously dominated by Fernando Alonso. So much so that in 2019, McLaren F1 dismissed Vandoorne to start another great hope, Lando Norris.
Now a reserve driver for Aston Martin F1, Vandoorne remembers his debut in F1… and the disillusionment that followed. Doesn’t he have great regrets about having arrived in the wrong team at the wrong time?
“The road to F1 was long and when I got there my time on the grid showed how difficult the sport can be. You have to be there at the right time and in the right place. If you look at many drivers’ careers, you’ll see that it was decided within the first two years of racing in the series. If you debut in a competitive car and consistently finish in the top three or five, people have a completely different perception of you, your abilities and your suitability to become an F1 driver.”
“These two years in F1 have been hard, really hard. F1 was my dream, but it didn’t work out the way I had hoped. It took a lot of effort to get there, but when I did, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. »
“The situation is not easy. You come from junior series where everyone competes with the same machines and where, if you’re good enough, you can fight for the top spots every year, and you suddenly find yourself in a position where that’s not possible – because the car you have is so far off the pace. It’s a shock to the system and you need to find other ways to motivate yourself. It’s difficult and it eats away at your passion for the sport. »
Stoffel Vandoorne, however, was able to bounce back brilliantly. Mercedes F1 reserve driver after 2018, he also became Formula E world champion in 2022 and finished on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2019.
“Looking back, if I’m honest, at the end of 2018 I needed a break from F1, a change of environment, and since then I’ve had the chance to race in different series and cars, with different teams, and that’s how I rediscovered my passion – my love for racing again. I was crowned Formula E world champion, stood on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and am helping Aston Martin fight for consistent points, podiums and its first Formula 1 win.”
A shadow role at Aston Martin F1
Aston Martin F1 reserve driver alongside Jak Crawford, doesn’t Stoffel Vandoorne suffer from being on the sidelines of F1?
“It’s never easy for a driver to lose his seat in F1, and it was difficult to accept at first. After all these years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice, you can’t believe you’ve gotten to this point – this isn’t part of the storyline, this isn’t how things are supposed to be . »
“As a test and reserve driver at Aston Martin, I help the younger members of our driver team and one of the pieces of advice I constantly give them is to enjoy the journey. This sport is ultra competitive; Driving an F1 car is a rare opportunity, so you have to make the most of it. Whatever the challenges, you have to savor the experience, both the good and the bad, and make the most of it – you never know how long you’ll have the chance. This is what I understood since my last race in F1. »
“Make no mistake, not everything is easy today. Being a test and reserve driver in Formula 1 comes with its own challenges due to the limits placed on the amount of testing one can carry out. »
Stoffel Vandoorne’s daily life may not be exciting, but he is essential for the Silverstone team.
“I spend a lot of time in the Aston Martin simulator, developing the car and future concepts, helping the team prepare for upcoming races and next year’s challenger. It’s an intense schedule, but there are months where I’m in the simulator a lot less than others – usually when I’m competing in other races. I probably spend 25 days a year in the simulator – eight or nine hour days – and those are intense days where you do at least 150 laps. »
“Besides working on the simulator, the other key aspect of my role is the race weekends I attend. I go to 11 or 12 Grands Prix a year and do exactly the same thing as Lance and Fernando on the circuit, except driving. I attend all the engineering and strategy meetings, so if I had to replace Lance or Fernando, I’m completely in the rhythm of the weekend and I would just have to get in the car. I know that any chance I get to drive the car, I’ll grab it with both hands. »
Stoffel Vandoorne therefore remains in the world of F1… but a return as a starter seems unrealistic, even if the Belgian of course hopes for it in the back of his mind.
“I admit it would be difficult to say no, especially when you see where the sport is today. It has grown significantly over the past two years. It’s still the pinnacle and it’s where all drivers want to be. You have to be realistic about the opportunities, but you never know what can happen in F1. »
“I have a different mindset than I had a few years ago. I am very happy with my current situation, which would not have been the case before – I only realized this in recent years. I now know what I want and what I don’t want, and I only learned it by playing different roles and participating in different series. I feel more complete as a person. »
“I love what I do again. »
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