Fernando Alonso has congratulated McLaren junior driver Stoffel Vandoorne for clinching the GP2 title and labelled the young driver a "future F1 star".

Vandorne wrapped up the F1 feeder series crown with four races to spare in Sochi after a dominant season which has seen him claim five victories and 13 podiums. However, despite his success Vandoorne appears set to become the fourth consecutive GP2 champion -- after Davide Valsecchi, Fabio Leimer and Jolyon Palmer -- to fail to secure a seat in Formula One the following year.

Vandoorne's plight has not been helped by McLaren's decision to retain Jenson Button alongside Alonso next season, while the presence of the team's official reserve driver Kevin Magnussen gives him further competition for a seat. The lack of a Honda customer team on the grid also complicates his chances of a 2016 drive.

Despite that uncertainty, two-time world champion Alonso took time after the Russian Grand Prix to congratulate Vandoorne on his title win and clearly thinks the youngster is set for big things when he finally arrives in Formula One.