Jos Verstappen believes that the issues currently affecting the McLaren-Honda F1 team could have a detrimental effect on the career of highly-rated Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne.
The team suffered numerous issues with their Honda power unit in pre-season testing, and the team currently find themselves some way off their rivals. The father of Red Bull teenage sensation Max added to the widespread criticism and implied that the team's issues could affect Vandoorne's future.
"I really hope for Stoffel that he can stay in F1 after 2017. What can he do? Perform as well as his teammate Fernando Alonso.
"He is a great talent but I fear that he will have a bad year. Honda is now entering its third season and they're getting worse. I really don't understand what they've been doing," he added.
Vandoorne suffered in a disrupted qualifying session with a fuel pressure limiting his running. He was unable to put a quick enough lap together to make it out of Q1 and he will start tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix from 18th place.
The Belgian is keeping the faith, however, and was clear in his response when asked if he was prepared to wait for Honda to resolve their issues. "If I think that I have been waiting three years to debut in F1, then definitely!"
Local time
Local time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Replies (0)
Login to reply