Stoffel Vandoorne’s promotion to a race seat with McLaren-Honda was well deserved according to Nyck de Vries, with the Dutchman eager now to take his place as reserve driver.
De Vries has been a McLaren development programme in recent years, and has just taken his maiden GP3 Series victory at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza with ART Grand Prix having moved to the championship after finishing third in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2015 with DAMS. The Dutchman currently sits fourth in the championship with two rounds to go in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi.
With the McLaren team having promoted both Vandoorne and Kevin Magnussen to race seats in recent years, de Vries admits there is hope that he can follow in their footsteps and make it into Formula 1.
“It is very good that Stoffel is now getting the chance he deserves,” de Vries is quoted by the Dutch website formule1.nl. “There will be some more space, which is obviously good.
“McLaren had Kevin Magnussen and now Stoffel is being given a chance. So do I have hope? Yes, but on the other hand while it is close it is still far away.
“You have to keep proving yourself time and time again, otherwise it goes nowhere.”
