Vandoorne's McLaren exit confirmed

McLaren have confirmed that Stoffel Vandoorne will not race for the team in 2019 after suffering a msierable season that has seen him outclassed by Fernando Alonso in 2018. The Belgian was overlooked in favour of teenage prodigy Lando Norris in McLaren's search for Carlos Sainz's 2019 team-mate.

Vandoorne has been outqualified by Alonso at all 14 grands prix so far this year and has not finished ahead of the Spaniard when both have seen the chequered flag since last season's Malaysian Grand Prix.

GP2 champion in 2015, Vandoorne arrived in F1 with a mighty pedigree, but he has struggled to make an impression as McLaren have lurched from one crisis to the next.

Commenting on Vandoorne's impending departure, Brown said: "It's clear we haven't provided Stoffel with the tools to show his true talent, but throughout our relationship he's proved to be a fantastic team player.

"His work ethic is impressive, he has a great reputation within the team and we've really enjoyed working with him.

"Of course, we would have loved to achieve more success during our time together, but that doesn't detract from the fact that he will always be a part of the McLaren family of grand prix drivers."

It may not necessarily spell the end of Vandoorne's F1 career. The Belgian has been linked to Sauber - where a vacancy may be opened by Charles Leclerc replacing Raikkonen at Ferrari.

Vandoorne worked with Sauber team principal Fred Vasseur in GP2 and suggested that he will have an announcement to make about the 2019 season.

He said: "While we haven't achieved the success we'd all hoped for, I've really enjoyed the past two seasons racing for McLaren and I have a great relationship with everyone in the team.

"My time at McLaren has been a great chapter in my career and I'm thankful for the opportunity the team, Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa and Mansour Ojjeh have given me to gain valuable Formula 1 experience and develop as a driver.

"I intend to give it my all for the remaining seven races of this season, and will announce my plans for next season in due course."