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Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has ruled out a potential deal for Stoffel Vandoorne to join Toro Rosso next year, claiming that the Belgian is too slow for Formula 1.
Vandoorne will leave McLaren at the end of the 2018 season. The 26-year-old has had a tough year, last scoring points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He is also yet to out-qualify teammate Fernando Alonso this season, leading McLaren to take the decision to drop him.
He will be replaced by Lando Norris, McLaren's current reserve driver. Toro Rosso, Red Bull's junior squad, has already filled one of its seats for 2019 with Daniil Kvyat, however it is not known who will partner the Russian next season.
But Marko assures that it won't be Vandoorne: "We will not take Stoffel," Dr Helmut Marko told the broadcaster RTBF. "I think he's just not fast enough for F1."
It seems almost set in stone that Vandoorne will instead leave F1 altogether and join the new works Mercedes team in Formula E: "I have always liked Stoffel, a brilliant driver in the junior categories," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
"We must now try to understand why it did not work for him in F1, but maybe there could be some news about him soon. I think his character and speed would work very well at Mercedes, but for now we will have to see," the Austrian added.
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (5)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Helmut Marko... Wow. I also remember him saying something similar about Kvyat and yet...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yes, I sorta call bollocks on this. I think they will probably stick to Hartley, but if they can get Vandoorne or someone else for a good price they'll probably prefer snatching that driver.
Kean
Posts: 692
It is kinda harsh of Marko, and yet I really don't know what to make of Vandoorne's season. I've been saying it's down to the car being more to Alonso's preference, the car being crap, Vandoorne being compared to one of the best in history when it comes to getting the most out of a crappy package. But still I haven't even seen a flash of competitiveness out of Vandoorne, perhaps Marko has a point. I heard the swedish commentators say that Honda had been pushing hard to get Vandoorne in a Toro Rosso but they've been shut down by Marko. The way I see it when going over the list of potential drivers, they really only have Wehrlein, Kubica, Vergne, Buemi and Hartley to choose from. Marko doesn't want Vergne back, Buemi is committed elsewhere and Hartley hasn't done enough. So it's Wehrlein or Kubica.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
You forgot Ocon, he still dont have a seat AFAIK.
Vandoorne really hasnt impressed, thats for sure. It wouldnt surprise me if Honda pushed for him, seeing as his relation to them is kinda similar to their relation with Button, but then again they have their own driver they really want in an F1 car. Many, many drivers, although some are "too old" at this stage (oh Yamamoto...). Maybe they are opting to pair one of them with Kvyat? Or they'll just stick with Hartley?
xoya
Posts: 583
Helmut is such a retard.