Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Autosport Plus

Meeting McLaren's next F1 superstar

Stoffel Vandoorne has had to bide his time to land a full-time race seat in F1 with McLaren, but now the wait is over, prepare yourselves for someone potentially very special

To McLaren last week, for lunch with Stoffel Vandoorne, who this year becomes a full-time Formula 1 driver. As I write, the personable Vandoorne has but one grand prix to his name, subbing for Alonso in Bahrain last year, following Fernando's accident in Melbourne: impressively he scored a point, after outqualifying Jenson Button, and may be regarded as a superstar of the coming generation, alongside such as Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz.

While Olivier Gendebien was one of the greatest sportscar drivers of all time, down the years Belgium has produced curiously few F1 drivers of consequence, with only Jacky Ickx and Thierry Boutsen on the list of grand prix winners. Assuredly Vandoorne will join them.

Previous article Williams F1 performance chief Rob Smedley set for broader role
Next article How F1 should clamp down on driving standards

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe