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Vandoorne "very grateful" to McLaren despite being replaced

14:22, 03 Sep 2018

byNicolás Quarles van Ufford

Departing McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne has expressed his thanks to the team for the years they've been together, despite the Belgian being replaced by McLaren junior driver Lando Norris.

Vandoorne scored points for the Woking-based team on his debut in Bahrain in 2016, the year he got promoted from reserve driver, but it's been a rocky road since. This season, he's still yet to beat Fernando Alonso in qualifying, making him the only driver who hasn't beaten his teammate on Saturdays.

“I’m very grateful to McLaren for investing their faith in me over the past five years," the Belgian said on the McLaren website.

"I joined McLaren as a young driver and have since seen my career progress within the team from Test and Development Driver to Reserve Driver and then to full-time race driver.

“While we haven’t achieved the success we’d all hoped for, I’ve really enjoyed the past two seasons racing for McLaren and I have a great relationship with everyone in the team.

What's next for Vandoorne? Sauber have already made clear they won't be signing the Belgian, which leaves him with few options in F1. He will inform us shortly though, he says.

"I intend to give it my all for the remaining seven races of this season, and will announce my plans for next season in due course.”