Vandoorne: “Accessing F1 is to become champion”

Jenson Button stays at McLaren, ready to run if necessary. Some people see it as a lack of trust in you. Additional pressure?

No. I even think it's a very intelligent solution. Button is one of the most experienced drivers in the field. He knows the team by heart. At Honda, he is at home. And he had a lot of influence on the development of the 2017 car. It would be stupid to throw it all in the trash. We can benefit from his experience. I too can learn a lot from him.

In April, you had already replaced Alonso in Bahrain. Scoring the team's first point... Was this confirmation for you that you were ready?

It's like everyone is finding out who I am. Because I had competed in a Grand Prix. However, I have been running for a few years now and have had good results. After Bahrain, I saw a tsunami of interview requests arrive. Before, only a handful of journalists followed me. But it's like that. Let's say it's the magic of F1...

You will become Fernando Alonso's teammate. He's not a softy. Would you have preferred to team up with a less iconic driver?

No. If you want to get into F1, it's to become world champion. And then you have to dare to confront the best. Everyone knows that Fernando is a reference. For many, he is even the best driver on the board. It’s a unique chance for me to show what I’m worth…

Discover the full interview with Stoffel Vandoorne in the Belgium supplement of AUTO issue 2081hebdo, available in digital version on all platforms.