Stoffel Vandoorne says he will try and enjoy the last seven races of his McLaren F1 Team career, starting this weekend with the Singapore Grand Prix.
In between the Italian and Singapore races it was announced that the Belgian would depart the Woking-based squad at the end of 2018 after two years as Fernando Alonso’s team-mate, with current FIA Formula 2 championship contender and McLaren young driver Lando Norris being confirmed as his replacement.
Vandoorne has had a very tough season with only three top ten finishes, none of which have come while he has failed to out-qualify Alonso all year, with the Singapore session making it fifteen out of fifteen in the Spaniard’s favour.
But this has done nothing to dent his ambition to enjoy the final races of the season and put himself on the shopping list of any potential suiters for a 2019 drive.
“I’m really trying to enjoy the last races with McLaren,” said Vandoorne to Motorsport.com. “It’s definitely not been the ideal two years I’ve had with the team, and it’s probably been the two worst in its history.
“For now I’m just trying to make the most out of it and have fun. I like Singapore and hopefully we can make it a good one.”
Vandoorne says he has yet to be given a clear explanation to why McLaren is releasing him at the end of the season, although he does respect the decision.
“Obviously it was a team’s decision, and I have to respect the decision. But there hasn’t been a clear explanation why,” said the Belgian ahead of the Singapore weekend.
“I think that’s a question for them to see their exact strategy for the future. It would be nice to know. But I think there’s not much to explain.”
