Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Vandoorne in 'regular talks' with McLaren over future

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Stoffel Vandoorne says he has "regular talks" with Ron Dennis and Eric Boullier regarding his future at McLaren.

The Belgian is dominating this year's GP2 championship and has been part of the McLaren young driver program since the start of the 2013 season, going on to fight fellow McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen for that year's Formula Renault 3.5 title. With Magnussen demoted to test and reserve driver this season after a year racing in F1 last year, both he and Vandoorne face uncertain futures and the Belgian says he is speaking to them team often about what next year may hold.

"First of all, I do feel ready for Formula One, in my second season of GP2 I am leading the championship," Vandoorne said. "Still my main focus is winning GP2 in the best way possible. We'll see what happens. I still have regular talks with Ron and with Eric about what happens with the opportunity. But it's still too early to conclude something and know what is going to happen."

And Vandoorne says he has full faith in McLaren to do what is best for his career, even if that may not be a seat with the team next year.

"I've been with McLaren for three years now, they've always fully supported my career. I had the chance after winning Formula Renault to join their young driver programme and up to now I've had no regrets, thanks to them I have been racing in World Series and I have been racing in GP2 as well.

"Without them I wouldn't have even got the chance to drive and prove myself. I trust McLaren. We'll see what happens in the future. I think they will take care of me."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.