Vandoorne: 'Home race always a key highlight of the season'

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A home race is always a special moment in an F1 driver's season, and Stoffel Vandoorne is no exception, with the McLaren driver guaranteed a warm reception from the Belgian crowd next weekend at Spa.

It's been a difficult season however for the 26-year-old whose performance has been subpar relative to team mate Fernando Alonso. For Vandoorne, the summer break was first and foremost an opportunity to enjoy a necessary reset.

"I’ve never felt more ready to come back after the summer break!", said the local hero.

"I’ve really enjoyed the time away, being able to switch off and spend time with friends and family that I don’t often get to see much between races, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the car.

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"My home race is always one of the key highlights of the season, and every year I go there we see more and more passionate fans in the grandstands.

"The feeling is incredible and the whole team always receives a very warm welcome everywhere we go."

Vandoorne's last time out in the MCL33, at the Hungaroring, was a bitter disappointment, the Belgian retiring after 49 laps with a gearbox issue while running in the points, hot on the heels of Alonso.

He was left with a confident feeling however, believing the team had significantly improved the performance of his car.

"Although the DNF was hugely disappointing in Hungary, I had a much more positive feeling in the car and my main objective is to carry this momentum forward to Spa and these back-to-back races.

"Spa is also my favourite track – as it is for many other drivers – and I’ve raced there all through my junior career, so it feels like a second home for me and I hope we can put on a good show for the Belgian fans."

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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.