In 2014 for his first season in GP2, Stoffel Vandoorne finished vice-champion, behind Jolyon Palmer. The following year, with ART, the Belgian crushed the championship like never before – and became one of F1’s greatest hopes.
“I think those two years in GP2 are probably still two of my favorite seasons in my racing career”he smiles today for the FOM website.
“The first one was a little difficult at first. I mean, I won the very first race I competed in, but then we had a bit of a slump with some strategy mistakes and some reliability issues. »
“The end of the season was very strong, we won a few races, and I managed to finish second in the championship behind Jolyon, which really prepared me for the second year. Obviously, when you finish second in year one, then you have to win year two! »
“There was definitely a bit of extra pressure, but it was a great season, with seven wins, almost all records in terms of race wins, pole positions, fastest laps. I really left my mark on the championship and I felt very comfortable with the team, with the car. »
With this title in his pocket, Vandoorne was expected to start at McLaren F1… But it was Jenson Button who was preferred for the 2016 season. Enough to cause some frustration for the Belgian.
“When I won the GP2 title and Jenson was announced for a new season with the team, it was a bit difficult to accept at the time, knowing that I had done everything I could with my side to get a steering wheel in F1 »admet Vandoorne.
“Then, during a test in Super Formula, where I was staying fit, I got the call to replace Fernando in Bahrain after his accident in Melbourne. It was really very, very last minute. I was still in Japan when I got the call, so I took an overnight flight on Thursday evening and arrived Friday morning. A few hours later, I was already driving in FP1! »
Vandoorne then surprised by taking 12th position on the grid, ahead of Jenson Button. He finished the race in 10th place – a small feat in a disastrous McLaren F1 with its ‘GP2 engine’ (Honda).
Finally established at McLaren F1 in 2017, Stoffel Vandoorne however had to become disillusioned: he was going to experience two years of pain and abandonment in the orange team…
“It was difficult, that’s for sure. The first year we were with Honda and we had a lot of breakdowns, technical problems at the time. We were entering almost every weekend with grid penalties. »
“Actually, at the end of that first season we had some really good results. Then we thought that by starting the next season with the Renault engine we would be in much better shape, but it didn’t really happen like that. Expectations were very high, but when it doesn’t go as planned, it’s a little difficult for everyone. »
“I think it was something that almost had to happen with the team to really understand what they were going to do going forward. They needed to realize that maybe the car wasn’t as good as it seemed, because when we had Honda, we were like, ‘Okay, the car is good, but the engine is no good ‘. Then we got a different engine and we still weren’t good. »
“This led to a big upheaval within the team on a management level, with a lot of changes, obviously also with the drivers. I finally paid the price for it. »
What Stoffel Vandoorne says is that if McLaren F1 dominates the sport today, it is because it was able to wipe away the plasters and go through the Fourches Caudines in previous years!
“The fact is that in F1 you sometimes have to have a bit of luck when you get the opportunity to race, to be in the right place at the right time… Unfortunately, it didn’t really work out that way for me” he thus regrets.
“From my side, you can’t really know that in advance. When you get the opportunity to be in F1, you take it and you go for it, and it’s a bit of a matter of luck in terms of the competitiveness of the team. »
Vandoorne still believes in a return to F1!
Alongside Felipe Drugovich, Stoffel Vandoorne is now Aston Martin F1 reserve driver. With an idea in mind, that of making a return to F1 one day?
“In F1, it’s always beneficial for a racing driver to be involved, to keep fit. »
“What I’m doing here with Aston Martin, with the way the team works, the resources you have here… these are things I can apply to my programs in Formula E and endurance. »
“It’s good to still be involved. I think ultimately you have to see the bigger picture. I’m just trying to optimize the position I’m in and make the most of it. »
Stoffel Vandoorne is “only” 32 years old and looking at Fernando Alonso today, we say to ourselves that he would still be able to technically return to F1.
The prospect may seem distant, but the Belgian still believes in it!
“I have no doubt, I can still do it. »
“I haven’t started in F1 for a while now, but I’ve always raced competitively and I stay fit. I’ve had a few opportunities to test drive the car as well, so it’s been good to not be completely left out, even though driving opportunities these days are very, very limited. »
“I’m sure if there was an opportunity I would be ready. I would probably be in a different place mentally compared to my first experience in F1, and I would probably enjoy it a lot more too. All it takes is one opportunity and you’re back in the game. It’s always good to keep the door open, because you never know. »
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