Ex-McLaren driver ready to take chance to return to Formula 1

With two seasons under his belt for Stoffel Vandoorne, the Belgian “is ready” to seize his chance if the opportunity to return to Formula 1 presents itself. During the 2016 season, the native of Kortrijk did a stint behind the wheel of the McLaren during the Bahrain Grand Prix. For his first race in the premier category, the latter managed to score a point, crossing the finish line in tenth place. Impressed by his results, the Woking team therefore decided to sign him for the next two campaigns. His arrival at the British team did not go as planned. During this period, the single-seaters were powered by the Japanese manufacturer, Honda. In poor relations following Fernando Alonso’s legendary phrase “GP2 engine”, the Japanese brand did not at all appreciate the criticism towards its engine.

For the 2018 season, Stoffel Vandoorne scored a total of twelve points by finishing sixteenth in the World Drivers’ Championship, despite the power unit change with Renault. Unfortunately, McLaren turned to Lando Norris by banking on youth for the future of the team. The Briton was made official as the starting driver for the year 2019, therefore leaving the Belgian without a seat.

Serious options for the future?

Although he is no longer a starter, Stoffel Vandoorne still has one foot in the paddock. Currently a reservist at Aston Martin, the Belgian found himself in the car several times to carry out tests. The latest was in August on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, for tests with the tire manufacturer Pirelli. “To keep fit”, the latter is also involved in several parallel championships, such as endurance in WEC with Peugeot, or more recently with DS Penske in Formula E. In an interview given to the F1 website, the thirty-year-old driver -two-year-old revealed his ambitions for the future and hopes to have a chance to return to the premier discipline.

“After F1 it was a bit difficult at the beginning. When you work your whole career to be in F1 and everything suddenly stops, it’s difficult at first. But I think joining Formula E and being able to participate in other endurance racing programs has given me some motivation and love for the sport again. The resources they have in F1, the size of the team, I think it’s always beneficial for a racing driver to be involved in that, to stay fit. What I’m doing here with Aston Martin, the way the team works, the resources you have here, these are the things I can use for Formula E and endurance racing.

“It’s good to still be involved [en F1]. I think ultimately you have to look at the bigger picture. I’m just trying to optimize the position I’m in and make the most of it. I haven’t been in F1 for a while, but I continue to race competitively and keep fit. I had a few opportunities to test drive the car [pour des tests Pirelli]so it’s good to not be completely out of racing, even if the opportunities to drive are very, very limited these days. I’m sure if the opportunity presented itself, I would be ready. I will probably be in a different state of mind than when I started in F1, and I will probably enjoy the experience a lot more. All it takes is one opportunity to get back into the game. It’s always good to keep the door open, because you never know.”

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