Vandoorne: “Button's experience will be useful to the team”

Stoffel vandoorne is preparing to make his McLaren debut in 2017, ready to replace the veteran Jenson Button.

However, the English team has decided to keep the experienced English world champion under contract as third driver, in order to allow him to develop the car and take to the track if necessary.

Auto Hebdo asked the young Vandoorne his opinion on this choice and on the additional pressures of having an experienced driver "behind him": "I think the agreement with Button is a good solution – he admitted – Jenson is one of the drivers more experienced on the grid, he knows the team and is actually involved in the development of the new car. It would be foolish not to benefit from it. His experience will be good for the team and I can learn a lot from him."

The 24-year-old Belgian said he was happy to have got a wheel for 2017: “I felt relieved to sign the contract. In Formula 1, even if I had no doubts about having a place, nothing is certain until a contract is signed. The last few months haven't been easy but now that everything is official I've taken a weight off my shoulders."

Manuel Lai