1
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says that Stoffel Vandoorne should have been more aggressive with the team in 2018. The Belgian will leave the Woking outfit at the end of the season after struggling to compete against teammate Fernando Alonso.
McLaren confirmed in September that its junior driver Lando Norris would take Vandoorne's seat in 2019. Vandoorne will move to Formula E after signing a deal with HWA, with the new season set to kick off in December.
With just three races left to run in 2018, Brown says that his F1 demise came after he could have been more aggressive: "Was he too corporate? No, I wouldn't say that," Brown said.
"He's a very, very nice guy, but maybe he should have been a bit more aggressive with us. When Fernando doesn't like something about the car, he does not hesitate to raise his voice. Maybe for Stoffel it was more difficult for him to do that in this environment."
Vandoorne's current teammate Fernando Alonso will also walk away from F1 at the end of the year. He has defended Vandoorne, believing he is one of the best drivers of his generation.
"Stoffel was unlucky to be with McLaren at this time, with the cars he had at his disposal in these two years," he said. "I think it's a good thing for him to change. He won in every category he ever did, but Formula 1 is the only discipline in motor racing where talent is not enough to overcome the weaknesses of the car."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
185,379 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
280,711 comments on McLaren 156 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about McLaren
Replies (1)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I am sure many will come out and attack Zak Brown over this, but as a Stoffel supporter, I think this is very valid commentary. The first time I see McLaren comment on Stoffel's performance. We can analyze things in many ways, but ultimately the dominance of Fernando over Stoffel is way too much.
I still think, however, that Stoffel will be back and stronger. One thing we can say for sure is that Stoffel didn't make any noticeable mistakes, but I think that's a sign of not trying hard enough.