The Belgian driver Stoffel Vandoorne regrets that the shoots he made during this 2018 Formula 1 season went unnoticed because of the equipment he had at his disposal.
Vandoorne was not retained by McLaren for 2019, the Woking team having preferred Lando Norris to support Carlos Sainz. Anyway, even if he showed a severe 0-21 against his teammate Fernando Alonso in qualifying in 2018, Vandoorne says he still achieved pretty good performances in the race.
“It’s never easy when you’re not in the right car. I think I’ve had some very, very good races this season on a number of occasions but no one has noticed it.” Vandoorne said.
“If I had been in one of the best cars on the board, I would have found myself at the front of the pack fighting for the win or a second or third place.
“It just changes so much the image that people have of you, which is a shame but I guess it has always been that way in F1. Honestly, given the material I had at my disposal, I could not have done anything more.” Vandoorne added.
Vandoorne already proved that in Bahrain last year, when he replaced the injured Alonso after his monster crash in Melbourne.
Stoffel Vandoorne leaves McLaren at the end of the season, replaced by Lando Norris. (Source:www.essentiallysports.com)
“Personally, I think Bahrain was probably one of my best races of the season. I was good last after the first corner, but I made a great comeback to finish in the points. Mexico was also a very good race, and Brazil was also one of the best races of my season.” Vandoorne said.
“But sometimes you outdo yourself during a Grand Prix without ending up in the points, simply because you did not have the car to finish in the top 10. You have achieved an excellent Grand Prix, nobody noticed because you have not finished in the points, but it’s life.
“I still remember a lot of positive this year. I have gained a lot of experience over the past two years and I am sure it will be useful for the next chapter of my career.” he added.
A chapter he will open with Mercedes since Vandoorne will become the simulator driver of the world champions in title in 2019.
