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Brown warns Vandoorne that it could be sink or swim

09:45, 11 Aug 2018

byJake Williams-Smith

McLaren boss Zak Brown has fired a warning shot in the direction of Stoffel Vandoorne as the rumour mill continues to swirl around the McLaren driver as to whether or not he will remain with the team in 2019. Vandoorne has been soundly beaten this year by teammate Fernando Alonso, putting his race seat at the team in doubt.

In an interview with MN, Brown explained that although the McLaren Renault partnership hasn't fired the team into the upper echelons of the grid as they might have hoped, the Belgian needs to up his game should he wish to remain a part of the team.

“I wouldn’t say we’re disappointed by Stoffel. You’d like to see him beating his team-mate more often than he has.

“That’s the same in any situation. You’d love to see your team-mates split right down the middle in beating each other every weekend.

“He’s not been able to do that on a regular basis but I wouldn’t say we’re disappointed because last year we know we gave him a very difficult situation and this year we’ve not given him a very good car to work with.

“Given Fernando’s talent and experience he’s able to adapt to situations that aren’t great.”

Alonso himself sympathised with his younger teammate, agreeing that when the conditions are normal, he can perform to a high standard.

“He arrived in a difficult car with some difficulties last year and this year as well, but he’s OK, and he will be very close in performance as soon as the car is delivering normal performance.

“Nothing really to say to him. And for his reputation, you just need to wait and see, or see the results before Silverstone, or last year, in terms of qualifying.”