F1: Vandoorne says he can do no more to get McLaren seat

Stoffel Vandoorne feels he has done all he can to prove to McLaren he deserves a Formula 1 drive with the team next season.

McLaren has already indicated no discussions will take place with either Jenson Button or Vandoorne until after the summer break to decide on Fernando Alonso's teammate for 2017.

Button has declared he has yet to make up his mind as to his future, calling any speculation on his future at this stage "guesswork." However talks are understood to have taken place with Williams, the team where he began his F1 career in 2000.

McLaren reserve Vandoorne, overlooked for this season as McLaren opted to keep faith with Button scored a point on his F1 debut in Bahrain in standing in for the injured Alonso.

"The main goal is to be in F1 next year, that hasn't changed," said Vandoorne, who tested for McLaren at Silverstone last week. "I am contracted to McLaren and I want to be with this team next year.

"I've spent a lot of time with the team and engineers and feel we've been through a perfect preparation. There is not much more I can really do to get the drive now.

"I would love to race for this team, but I've always said if for some reason it doesn't become possible, I am positive there are other options available. Everybody is interested in what I am doing, with this year a preparation year for next year.

"I will focus on my role as the reserve driver, but having a racing program alongside that [in the Japanese Super Formula series] is a good benefit to stay race fit and sharp should I need to jump in the car."

Vandoorne took his first pole position in Japan at Fuji this weekend, although he lost ground before retiring late in the race when he suffered a spectacular brake failure that pitched him into a spin at the end of the main straight. While he sits only eighth in the standings after three rounds, the 24-year-old Belgian driver believes the series is keeping him race sharp.

"It definitely helps because the cars in Japan are fast and have a lot of downforce in the high-speed corners," added Vandoorne. "It is not only just racing, but also to keep the thinking process behind developing a car.

"In Japan it is very technical in terms of setup, so it feels good and it gives me something to look forward to."

Button said after last weekend's British Grand Prix that he doesn't expect anything to move on his future just yet.

"The team has already said we're not going to discuss anything until September, so I don't know why there is so much speculation," said the 2009 world champion. "No one has got a clue what is going on, not until I've made up my mind what I do for next year.

"We'll see then. For now I'm just trying to enjoy the racing."

Originally on Autosport.com