McLaren: Experience a priority for 2019 line-up

Experience will be a priority when it comes to choosing McLaren's 2019 driver line-up, states the team's CEO Zak Brown. The driver pairing at the Woking based team for next year is uncertain, with plenty of drivers in the running for a seat.

It is unknown what the future of Fernando Alonso entails, as the Spaniard has been linked to a potential F1 exit at the end of the year. However, it is believed that he is open to staying at the team should his compatriot Carlos Sainz join as his partner next year.

Big doubt hangs over Stoffel Vandoorne for 2019, as he has been heavily out-performed by Alonso so far this season. And with Brown stating that experience is what the team is looking for, it is unlikely that reserve driver Lando Norris will get the nod.

"It's difficult to get set in any one particular direction because so many pieces move,” the American said. "In situations like this you need to keep every door and every avenue open and wait for some dominoes to fall. Sometimes it's in your control, sometimes it's not. 

"We know our situation with Stoffel. We’re seeing what other opportunities may or may not be available, seeing what ultimately Fernando wants to do.  It's also about the package – experience and youth – especially in the situation we're in.

“Because we're rebuilding, to have two young drivers in our car wouldn't be a great place to be.  If we had a better racecar then you might take a risk with two younger drivers because you've given them good racecars."

It was uncovered that Vandoorne's chassis had a very unique issue over a number of races before it was fixed for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Despite some poor results, Brown says that the team is still fully backing the Belgian driver.

"The reality is we have two open seats, and it's our job to get the best driver situation possible and that requires talking to other drivers up and down pitlane,” said Brown. 

"Every racing driver knows that they need to perform at the highest level because teams are always looking for the best solution at that moment.  We're very much behind Stoffel. It's one of the main reasons why Gil [de Ferran, sporting director] joined us, to help with the driver situation. 

"I feel very comfortable with giving him all the support we possibly can while we're in the Formula 1 silly season and of course having a look around at what the various opportunities are."

Fergal Walsh