Stoffel Vandoorne: No, never. Yes, of course, it is a big relief that finally in 2017 I will be a fully-fledged Formula One driver - that McLaren-Honda is giving me that opportunity. I have spent so much time with this team already and had a lot of success already in the junior series. The team has really been preparing me for Formula One for years - and now we both want to get rewarded.

Q: Stoffel, you have been a name known in the F1 paddock for quite some time now and finally you have been rewarded with a race seat at McLaren for 2017. Did you ever think that it would never happen?

Q: You could perhaps have been in the seat for the start of this season, but then Jenson Button stayed on. What kind of discussions did you have with the team about why they chose not to partner a rookie with Fernando Alonso for 2016? They’ve not been shy of such things in the past - think of Lewis Hamilton…

SV: I don’t know what discussions were going in behind the scenes, but I remember a year ago when I was finishing GP2 that, of course, there were a lot of rumours around that I might get the drive already for 2016. Alas it didn’t happen back then, but yes, I remember all the hype surrounding it. And to be honest I was a little disappointed at the beginning - it was a tough moment for me to understand that F1 would have to wait another year. But I kept my head cool and won the last two GP2 races that season and actually broke the record in that series. I knew it was best to give the answer on the track. Sure, time is always pressing in a driver’s career, so I knew it had to be next year - as it was probably my last chance of getting to F1.



Q: Your racing career followed a fairly normal path in Europe through to GP2, but then you headed east for a season in Japanese Super Formula. What was the thinking behind that? To gain popularity in Japan?

SV: Firstly, I’ve won almost everything in Europe, so what else was there to do? Secondly, McLaren tried to keep me busy - keep me in the racing loop. And thirdly, yes, the series is very popular in Japan and it got me close to the Japanese working procedures. McLaren and Honda is still a very recent cooperation and in that way it gave me the chance to work with Honda engineers and understand how they ‘tick’! (Laughs) I am sure that will help me in 2017. And probably, yes, to introduce me to the Japanese fans.



Q: Jenson will remain a member of the team next year - a three-driver line-up almost - and McLaren have left the door open for him to possibly return to the grid in 2018. Does that mean extra pressure for you? If you don’t perform Jenson is back in the cockpit again?

SV: No, I don’t see that situation as extra pressure. I have a long-term deal with McLaren. Hopefully we soon will be able to get back to the competitive level where McLaren used to be. In terms of next year, yes it is a special structure - but I think it is one of the best. Myself and Fernando are going to race - and then it is good to keep Jenson as well. He is the most experienced driver in F1 now and he will be involved with the team, be it in the simulator or coming to a few races.



Q: So there is no possibility that he could jump in the car?

SV: …at least that’s not what I am thinking at the moment, no. And I am fully thinking about the opportunity that I get - there is no room for non-issues. I want to succeed and am very much looking forward to that.



Q: There are big rule changes next season, and you will arrive on the grid in Melbourne with only a little more experience – just a few days of winter testing – than you have now. Is there any plan to get you in the cockpit once your season in Japan finishes at the end of October? You have a lot to learn…

SV: No such plan. And regarding the regulation changes next year, this is a probably a nice opportunity to perform well for me, as I don’t come with the ‘baggage’ of the old F1 car experience. But then F1 drivers are all so massively talented that any change will be immediately absorbed and implemented. The reality of F1 is that almost every race, cars are changing with updates - so drivers are used to that. And those who are right now in F1 are those who have shown that they can adapt very quickly - otherwise they wouldn’t be here. Actually when I think about it, yes, it could actually be a bit of an advantage for me to have a big reshuffle next year.