Stoffel Vandoorne will be heading up the new simulator driver role for Mercedes next year and will be working alongside Esteban Ocon, who will be the team’s reserve driver.
Vandoorne is said to be excited by the opportunity and delighted to still be involved in F1 and the world championships after a difficult season. He wants to bring fresh ideas to the role and make a difference in this new environment while also hoping to get back into F1.
The move is being seen as a sign of confidence in Vandoorne by Mercedes, and he hopes to prove to them what he is capable of and demonstrate he is up for the challenge.
The Executive Director of Mercedes AMG, Toto Wolff, reveals his feelings about their successful season in this article by The Daily Express: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1050369/Lewis-Hamilton-Mercedes-Toto-Wolff-F1.
2018 Season
Driving for McLaren Renault in 2018, Vandoorne enjoyed a good start to the season with three points finishes in the first four races. However, as the year progressed, the Belgian struggled to maintain the momentum and finished the season being out-qualified by a teammate in every race. It was announced in the summer he was being replaced by Lando Norris for 2019, but Vandoorne is determined to remain upbeat.
British Drivers
British fans of Formula 1 have lots to celebrate with two new drivers being announced for the 2019 season. 18-year-old Norris was signed in the summer by McLaren, and his rival George Russell was announced by Williams last month. 20-year-old Russell will have his debut in Melbourne in February and has just secured the Formula Two title. The driver from Norfolk was reserve driver for the world championships throughout this year.
The 2019 campaign starts in Melbourne, where fans wanting a live adrenaline-fuelled experience can book to see the action close-up in the F1 Paddock Club, booking through specialists such as edgeglobalevents.com/f1-paddock-club/. Hospitality packages for corporate clients provide an unforgettable experience and can be tailored to suit individual needs.
Lewis Hamilton, who has already secured his name in the history books, finished his 2018 successful season with a victory at Abu Dhabi at the weekend. Having already secured the world championship, his success now equals that of racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio, and he is on track to equal Michael Schumacher’s seven world championship titles.
