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Stoffel Vandoorne has endured a tough first full season so far in Formula 1, as McLaren-Honda's struggles continue. The Belgian has finished just two races so far this season (Australia and Russia) while he failed to start the race in Russia due to engine issues.
Most of the blame for the string of non-finishes is pinned on Honda, as the Japanese manufacturer is still struggling in its third year of the hybrid era. Formula 1 heads to North America this week, with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve playing host to round seven of the championship.
“Monaco was definitely an eventful weekend for the whole team. I felt really comfortable in the car each time I got out on track, and I felt we could really push the limits of our package and maybe come home in the points – it’s a shame it didn’t end up that way. There has definitely been a step forward in the chassis thanks to the upgrades the team has been working hard to bring to every race, so let’s see how these translate to Canada, which is a very different circuit set-up.
“It’s a new venue for me this weekend as I’ve never raced there before, but I’ve driven the track plenty of times in the simulator already. It’s a tough circuit and I can see why people say it’s a ‘driver’s track’ – there’s a lot to keep you busy and high concentration is essential – the Wall of Champions is proof of that! It will definitely be a completely different experience to Monaco in terms of preparation and set-up, but I’m excited to drive it for real for the first time and get a feel for its characteristics."
Vandoorne knows that Montreal will not be ideal for the McLaren-Honda package. The circuit demands a lot from the power unit, and is a very tough track on brakes: “The race will be tough on brakes, tough on engines and tough on the drivers, and with the potential of Safety Cars in the mix, there’s a lot to think about in terms of strategy and set-up this weekend.
"It will be good to have Fernando back alongside me, and he has a lot of experience at this track that will be useful to tap into. It won’t be the easiest Grand Prix for us, but, in contrast to Monaco, there are more overtaking opportunities, which will hopefully mean more chances for us to be in the mix.”
Fergal Walsh
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
High concentration and a good engine
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Well, Honda no doubt have the lion share of the blame. Its admirable that they have brought tweaks to the PU to close to every GP so far in the season, but we need more than tweaks now, and the damage is done. They werent ready for this season, and now they risk losing their primary F1-partner.