Vandoorne in talks over 2019 deal

Stoffel Vandoorne has entered discussions with Dale Coyne Racing about a potential 2019 move to IndyCar, having suffered the axe from McLaren after an underwhelming stint in Formula 1. The Belgian struggled to deliver on his junior-formula category and has been outqualified by Fernando Alonso in all 15 races so far this year.

Vandoorne brought titles in GP2 and Super Formula to F1 with him, replacing Jenson Button full-time in 2017.

However, he has only beaten Alonso in one race where both have seen the chequered flag – last year's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Alonso will also leave F1 at the end of the year, but his attempts to join IndyCar have hit a snag as Honda are reportedly unwilling to supply an engine to him, which could open up the door for Vandoorne, who has already spoken about a 2019 with team owner Dale Coyne.

"We've talked to him, although I don't know where it will lead, if anywhere," Coyne told Motorsport.com. "But I'd say he's cautiously interested."

Robert Wickens' huge crash at Pocono Speedway that left him with fractures to his spine and both legs threw the dangers of IndyCar onto the consciousness of European fans – and drivers.

"It's affected all of us, hasn't it? I mean, people understand about laying it all on the line for the Indy 500 and everything that comes with it," he said.

"But racing in front of 12,000 people at 220mph at some of these other tracks, it's fair to ask what we're doing, why we're doing it."

Vandoorne has already admitted that his hopes of returning to F1 in 2019 are "slim", but he is taking inspiration from another driver released by McLaren early in their career, Kevin Magnussen – who has impressed with Haas over the past two seasons.

"I feel a lot of support still from people high up in the Formula 1 paddock, let's say, and people realise what the situation has been here at McLaren," said Vandoorne.

"Ask Kevin [Magnussen], he's been in a kind of similar situation and I think he really benefitted from having a fresh start.

"It's something I'm quite looking forward to as well, to have a fresh start and see what the future holds."

MORE: McLaren offered no reason for Vandoorne axe