Vandoorne to make F1 debut in Bahrain

McLaren-Honda has confirmed that reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will make his Formula One debut at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix by deputising for the sidelined Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard did not pass the FIA’s mandatory medical examination, with the governing body ruling that Alonso has not sufficiently recovered from the heavy crash he sustained in the season-opening race in Melbourne.

Vandoorne has been a highly rated prospect for several years. The 24-year-old won the 2015 GP2 Series title in dominant fashion, picking up a record seven wins along the way. With Alonso and Jenson Button both returning at McLaren in 2016, Vandoorne had to settle for an F1 reserve role.

Renault racing director Frédéric Vasseur, who oversaw the Belgian’s championship-winning season with ART last year, hinted over the winter that the French manufacturer tried to poach him in order to replace Pastor Maldonado, but to no avail.

A member of the McLaren young driver programme since 2013, Vandoorne is set to dovetail his F1 commitment with a campaign in the Japan-based Super Formula series this year.

He will be the first Belgian driver to compete in grand prix racing since Jérôme d’Ambrosio subbed for the banned Romain Grosjean at the 2012 Italian Grand Prix.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis recently said he was expecting Vandoorne to be F1 ready by 2017 but it’s fair to state that the Belgian, who also won the 2012 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title, is already well-prepared to make the leap.

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