Former Formula 1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne is in the picture for a seat at the IndyCar team of McLaren. The racing team from Woking has extended its multi-year sponsorship deal with Arrow Electronics and wants to drive a third car in the American class in 2022 or 2023.
McLaren announced the renewal of its partnership with Arrow Electronics on Sunday. This marks a significant step towards expanding the IndyCar team McLaren SP, which plans to field a third car permanently from 2023.
According to McLaren-CEO Zak Brown, a third car might even be driven as early as 2022. "As soon as we have a third car, which is not yet at the beginning of the year, we will run it. We don't want to be competing one time and not the next," the 49-year-old American told Motorsport.com. "In 2023 we will definitely run a third car. Maybe we'll see it as early as sometime in 2022, but we don't know yet when that's going to be."
Vandoorne in the picture as a driver at McLaren
The IndyCar team has confirmed that they want to continue with current drivers Pato O'Ward and Felix Rosenqvist, but a third seat will be added. Brown said the team is looking for a driver to sign on for the long term and Stoffel Vandoorne is one of the drivers in the running for the seat. "Stoffel would definitely be under consideration. He's a very good racing driver," said Brown.
For Vandoorne, that would certainly not be bad news, given Mercedes' announced departure from Formula E after 2022. The 29-year-old Belgian will then have to look for another team within the class or seek refuge in another racing class.