McLaren team principal Ron Dennis believes that reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will fare well in the Super Formula series, and expect him to be ready in 2017.
McLaren’s latest young driver was announced as Kevin Magnussen’s replacement as the team’s reserve driver after impressing in GP2 last year.
The Belgian dominated the championship, and is now closer than ever to landing a Formula One seat.
“He won the GP2 championship in fine style last season – scoring seven great race wins – and he has grown in stature in recent years.” Ron Dennis said.
“He has always been intelligent, but to that intelligence he has recently added a level of wisdom unusual in one so young.
“His journey to Formula One has been mapped out very carefully, as is always the case with McLaren Young Driver Programme members, and we expect him to be ready in 2017.”
Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button will partner once again for the 2016 season, and it’s believed that Alonso will run out his contract which expires at the end of next year. However, Button is still in the dark about his future beyond 2016.
“Fernando has repeatedly confirmed, including when interviewed during the first Barcelona test only a couple of weeks ago, that he intends to complete the three years of his current contract.” Dennis said.
“As for Jenson, he and I will speak during the course of the year. But he is a world champion, and one of the very best drivers we have ever had.
“The fact that we also have Stoffel ready and waiting in the wings is an added bonus.
“In Fernando, Jenson and Stoffel, we have by some margin the most impressive race-driver-plus-reserve-driver combo in Formula One today.”
