Vandoorne prepares for 'a first and a last' in Malaysia

©McLaren

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Stoffel Vandoorne will enjoy his very first Malaysian Grand Prix next weekend, but it may also be the Belgian's last visit to Sepang as F1 bids farewell to the venue.

The McLaren driver achieved a career-best seventh-place finish in Singapore, but points may be harder to come by at Sepang, on a track which offers a blend of long straights and sweeping corners which may challenge Honda's power unit.

The 25-year-old nevertheless heads into the weekend armed with a positive spirit after his good run around Marina Bay.

"After Singapore, I’m looking forward to heading to Malaysia on the back of a positive weekend on my side of the garage," says Vandoorne.

"I felt strong all weekend and we were able to put in consistent performances in every session.

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"It’s a shame we couldn’t score points with both cars as we all felt it was really deserved; Fernando was very unlucky, but we head to Kuala Lumpur with a bit more confidence and the objective of keeping this momentum going."

Drivers will find another hot and humid environment to deal with in Malaysia, with temperatures likely even higher than in Singapore, two weeks ago, not to mention the chances of rain as monsoon season approaches.

"Like Singapore, Malaysia will be a first for me as I’ve never raced there before. It’s a shame it’ll be the last time we’ll be racing there for a while, but that’s all the more reason to make the most of it.

"It looks to be a pretty cool track – challenging and similar conditions to Singapore – but hopefully potential to show what our car can do.

"It definitely won’t suit us as much as the Singapore track did, so we still need to be cautious about what’s possible.

"But having watched races there in the past, there’s always some kind of drama and the risk of a shower or two, so we’ll have our fingers crossed for an opportunity for us to mix it with cars a little bit further up the field."

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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.