McLaren's Boullier praises Vandoorne for 'magnificent' drive

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Stoffel Vandoorne survived a chaotic Singapore GP to secure a career-best P7 finish and six valuable points for McLaren.

Like many of the cars around him, the Belgian was forced to take avoiding action at the start of the race when the front-runners collided up ahead.

Threading his way through the commotion, Vandoorne kept his position in the top ten however and drove flawlessly to the checkered flag.

A lengthy pitstop prevented the McLaren driver from challenging for sixth place however, but McLaren race director Eric Boullier praised his Vandoorne for his solid race.

"When the heavens opened shortly before the start, we knew this was going to be an exciting and unpredictable Singapore Grand Prix - and so it proved to be," said Boullier.

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"Through it all, Stoffel finished a magnificent seventh, battling throughout and really maximising the potential of our car whether he was running Full Wets, Intermediates or Option tyres.

"We think sixth was within our reach had he not been delayed at his second pit-stop. The front jack failed to engage properly, which meant the left-front wheel wasn’t lifted off the floor properly, which resulted in a slow removal.

"That delay meant he wasn’t able to close on [Jolyon] Palmer despite a spirited chase."

Vandoorne admitted that conditions threw a spanner into the works at the outset, with no margin for error.

"That was definitely an eventful race! To race under the rain at the beginning was definitely not easy, so my main focus was just to stay out of trouble, which we managed to do," said the 25-year-old.

"From that point on, I just managed my own race. I think seventh place was really the best it was going to get for me today.

"Sixth was perhaps on the cards at one point, but it didn’t work out at my second pit-stop. After that, I just focused on getting everything I could from the car and maximising the performance.

"Getting a couple of points means we finish our weekend on a high."

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.