Vandoorne returns to where it all started - but with less expectations

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McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne returns to the venue which saw him make his grand F1 debut a uear ago, and clinch his first championship point.

The Belgian replaced a convalescent Fernando Alonso in Bahrain in 2016 after the Spanish drivers' massive crash in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Vandoorne pit in a solid performance to finish tenth, but he isn't expecting a repeat of that feat next weekend.

"I have lots of good memories from the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in 2016," he says.

"We’re a year on now, I’m a full-time McLaren-Honda driver, and I’ve already gained a lot more experience in the past 12 months.

"So of course my aim is to work hard and improve every time I arrive at a Grand Prix."

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Like his illustrious team mate, Vandoorne longs for Honda to deliver the right blend of reliability and power, convinced his MCL32 chassis is probably as good as any other car out there.

"We were always expecting a difficult weekend in China, and I don’t know if it will get a lot better in Bahrain – it’s only one week later and there’s obviously a limit to how many changes we can apply in that time, but we’ll do our best as usual.

"The car is definitely improving and both Fernando and I feel confident and competitive, especially in the corners, so we’ll have to wait and see what’s possible at this track."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.