Stoffel Vandoorne will make his F1 debut with McLaren
Following Fernando Alonso's withdrawal from the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place this weekend, McLaren reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will make his Formula 1 debut.
No one expected it, least of all the person most concerned! Stoffel Vandoorne will officially start his Formula 1 career this weekend, in the Bahrain Grand Prix, driving a McLaren-Honda.
For the young Belgian, it is the culmination of a career already rich with victories and titles. Disappointed not to have been selected by the British team this season, the native of Courtrai had planned to bide his time, waiting for his moment in the shadows of the two main drivers, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, while competing in a Super Formula season to maintain competitive rhythm.
The withdrawal of the Spaniard allows him to skip a few steps and make his highly anticipated debut in the pinnacle of motorsport. He is the first to be surprised: “About to board for Bahrain. It’s a little earlier than expected, but I really can’t wait to be there. I will do my best for the team,” he immediately wrote on his Twitter account.
The resume of this 24-year-old Belgian is already impressive: F4 champion in 2010, Formula Renault 2.0 champion in 2012, and GP2 champion last year. Vandoorne is participating this year in the Super Formula championship in Japan, which will start on April 24th.
The last Belgian to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix was Jérôme d’Ambrosio in Italy in 2012 during a stint with Lotus. He currently competes in the Formula E championship.
