Stoffel Vandoorne's manager is hearing 'too many rumors'

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Alessandro Alunni Bravi, the man who looks after the interests of Stoffel Vandoorne, says there are too many unfounded rumors currently swirling around the McLaren driver.

Vandoorne hasn't performed according to his team's or indeed his own expectations this season, the Belgian lingering lately at the tail end of the F1 field, whether in qualifying or race trim, often the victim of his car's reliability issues.

The under-performance has called into question the 26-year-old's future at McLaren, with reports suggesting he could be ousted from the Woking-based outfit before the end of the season as part of a frantic game of musical chairs involving Lance Stroll's potential move to Force India and Esteban Ocon's subsequent transfer to McLaren, in place of Vandoorne.

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For Alunni Bravi however, there's simply too much noise around his driver.

"There are always rumours but I think there were too many this weekend that do not really reflect reality," the manager Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

"Stoffel is a McLaren driver in 2018 and he will be there until the end of the season, that's for sure."

Beyond 2018 however, the Italian admits it's a fluid situation, with all options on the table, including McLaren.

"Many drivers are talking with teams to explore possibilities. The same is true for us.

"We want to get a good car for Stoffel and he has to focus on his work, so I'm looking at all the options. McLaren is the priority for us.

"But if the team is not a good option for next year, we'll look at other options that are there for Stoffel," he added.

"He's a super professional guy who handles the pressure, he's calm but that doesn't mean he is not aggressive. I give him a 100pc chance to be in F1 next year.

"I don't have a guarantee, but he is still one of the youngest drivers in the paddock and this is all something agreed by McLaren and many other teams," he concluded.

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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.