Fernando Alonso sees Stoffel Vandoorne as the future of McLaren

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso will have a new team mate next year in Stoffel Vandoorne and he believes the young Belgian is the future of the team.

Vandoorne, who has served as the team's reserve driver this season, will effectively swap roles with Jenson Button as the 2009 champion takes at least a year out and Alonso says that it is his and Button's responsibility to help Vandoorne as he will be the future of the team.

"Jenson and myself felt that we have to be helping Stoffel getting into F1 because we know that for the future he will be the man maybe running McLaren," said Alonso. "This year, Jenson and I want to fight and try to beat each other but at the same time try to help the team. Stoffel was helping us a lot as test driver, a lot in the simulator and a lot here with the engineers."

"For me it will not be different next year. I will try to do my own job but Jenson and myself will be helping Stoffel as much as we can because for the future he will be the man," he added.