McLaren's Kevin Magnussen says Stoffel Vandoorne must get F1 drive
McLaren test driver Kevin Magnussen believes GP2 championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne must be signed to a Formula 1 race seat in the future
The two McLaren-backed drivers fought each other for the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 title, with Magnussen winning the championship against rookie Vandoorne.
The Dane's success earned him an F1 race drive with McLaren the following year, while Vandoorne starred in his first GP2 season and is already comfortably leading the 2015 title race.
When asked if Vandoorne's form is a worry, Magnussen - who is on the sidelines this year after being replaced by Fernando Alonso - said his former rival is definitely worth of a drive at the top level of the sport.
"Stoffel is doing a really good job," said Magnussen. "He deserves to get to F1, there's something wrong if he doesn't get to F1.
"But I guess everyone is a threat when you are competing for an F1 seat. What can you do about it?
"I've just got to focus on myself and not really worry about anyone else because I can't do anything about them.
"I'm not racing, so I can't beat them on track.
"I've got to rely on my experience, I've done well in F1, I've been on the podium.
"McLaren believes in me, they know what I can do and what my potential is.
"The right thing to do is to stay with McLaren and be part of this team's future, which I believe is going to be big."
Magnussen admitted over the winter that he considered racing with his father Jan at Le Mans this year, and he came close to landing an IndyCar drive, but he is adamant F1 remains his focus for next year.
"I don't want to think about 2017 or anything other than F1 because that's what I want to do," he said.
"I want to get back to F1, I want to be successful in F1 and I believe I can do that in this team.
"McLaren-Honda is a very powerful team and being one of their drivers is a good thing.
"No matter if there is a seat here at McLaren or not, I'm not in a bad position."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
McLaren's Alonso sure some F1 teams will get new rules wrong
Formula 1 peaked in 2000s, not Senna/Prost era, Alonso believes
How Hamilton has battled his own mentality
Why is F1 off for almost a month after the Singapore Grand Prix?
Magnussen: FIA "punishing ridiculous things" is "not the F1 I love"
The can of worms opened by Magnussen's Miami F1 sprint antics
Jon Noble: The one thing McLaren must leave behind for the title run-in
The McLaren vs Red Bull Miami mystery: An update shake-up, conspiracy or FIA intervention?
When McLaren conquered F1 and the Indy 500
Max Verstappen exclusive: "Red Bull can't force people to stay"
Formula 1 drivers who have competed for two teams in one season
FIM announces two-year MotoGP engine freeze from 2025
Black extends Ryan Motorsport Insurance Autosport National Rankings lead
Jon Noble: The one thing McLaren must leave behind for the title run-in
Ranking the real 2025 F1 driver line-up pecking order
Will Sauber's C44 go down as F1's best point-less car, or are there better contenders?
When McLaren conquered F1 and the Indy 500
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
