Vandoorne to use Mercedes role as a springboard

Stoffel Vandoorne has remained open to the possibility of a return to Formula 1 and hopes his development role at Mercedes will help him achieve that.

The Belgian was released by McLaren after two tough seasons, but he was quickly back in a job when he got signed up by Mercedes and a race seat with HWA Racelab in Formula E.

Ultimately the aim for Vandoorne is to return to F1 and is relying on a frantic offseason to give him that opportunity.

“It’s definitely good to keep involved in the world because you never know what happens in the future,” Vandoorne told Formula1.com.

“I think to be involved with Mercedes and to perform the work for them, it’s good that they will know exactly what I’m capable of doing.

“And we don’t know what the driver market is going to do in the future.

“It was a bit crazy this season and who knows what it will be next season.”

The former McLaren driver is expected to split his Mercedes duties with Esteban Ocon who was also left without a seat after he was replaced by Lance Stroll at Force India.