Stoffel Vandoorne confirmed at McLaren for 2018

Holder of a one-year contract with McLaren this season, Stoffel vandoorne was not yet confirmed within the British team. This is now done on the eve of its national Grand Prix.

« I am delighted that the team formally announces that I will continue to ride for them next year, explains the Belgian, because I will be able to have a better approach to my second half of the season by focusing completely on my job: namely getting the most out of my car, my engineers and everything around me.

« Finally, I would like to thank everyone at McLaren as well as the fans for their friendship and enthusiasm, they are the best."

A member of the McLaren young driver program since 2013, Vandoorne had been patient after his GP2 title in 2015 in Japan in Super Formula before arriving in F1 following the departure of Jenson Button.

« When we announced at the end of 2016 that Stoffel would be a McLaren Honda driver in 2017, we made it clear that our plan would be to have him race for several years, adds Eric Boullier. Our plan has not changed, and I am very happy to confirm that he will continue to ride with us next season."

After a difficult start to the season, Stoffel Vandoorne collected his first point this season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, propelling him to 18^e championship spot.