Vandoorne may have to look outside of McLaren

Stoffel Vandoorne – no check, no drive

2015 GP2 champion, Stoffel Vandoorne, who is currently contesting Super Formula in Japan, is determined to line-up on the 2017 F1 grid, having had his first real taste earlier this season when he stood in for Fernando Alonso in Bahrain and scored a world championship point on his debut.

However, with McLaren admitting that it is not willing to make a decision on whether to retain Jenson Button for an eighth season until September, Vandoorneis getting anxious and admits that he intends to be on the grid next year, whether it is with McLaren or not.

"I am contracted to McLaren and I really want to be with this team next year," he said during testing at Silverstone, "I've spent a lot of time here with the engineers and I feel like we've really been through the perfect preparation.

"There's really not much more I can do, I just need to get the drive," he continued. "I've been pushing for this for a long time and hopefully things work out. I've done all the preparation I could do, I've even done a first Grand Prix now so, yes, in 2017 I have to be on the grid.

"I would love to race for this team," he added, "but, if for some reasons, which I don't know, it doesn't become possible then I'm positive that there are other options available.

"I feel very positive about next year, I feel confident I will be in a car so hopefully a decision comes sooner rather than later."