Unfinished business in F1? Never say never, says Vandoorne

LONDON : Doors are hard to open and easily closed in Formula One but Formula E champion and former McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne is ruling nothing out, even if a grand prix comeback looks unlikely and electric racing is now his main focus.

The 30-year-old Belgian has a presence in both series this season, racing for the DS Penske Formula E team while serving as Aston Martin's F1 reserve once that championship starts in March.

Vandoorne, who won his Formula E title with the now-departed Mercedes for whom he was also an F1 reserve, sees it as "a perfect combination".

His predecessor at Aston Martin Nico Hulkenberg, now 35, leveraged the reserve role into a race return with U.S.-owned Haas.

Former Mercedes F1 reserve Nyck de Vries, the 2021 Formula E champion, will be racing in Formula One for Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri.

At Aston Martin Vandoorne will be supporting Spain's 41-year-old double world champion Fernando Alonso, his 2017 McLaren team mate, and Canadian Lance Stroll.

"You can never say never," the Belgian told Reuters from Saudi Arabia, where Formula E races this Friday and Saturday and where he was recently appointed ambassador for series airline partner Saudia, when asked about unfinished business in F1.

"You just simply don’t know what’s going to happen in someone’s career over the next couple of years, but I’d say my focus is on Formula E. I’m just trying to do the best I can here, on track.

"I think for a driver its always the most important to perform on track and then people suddenly are interested again, let’s say.

"So my focus is on Formula E to try and win races, win championships here and then pretty much it’s out of my control, it’s out of my hands."

GO FASTER

Vandoorne, who started 41 grands prix for McLaren