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Vandoorne: Nobody noticed my strong races!

Vandoorne: Nobody noticed my strong races!

11-12-2018 19:21 Last update: 19:27
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Bobby Vincent

Stoffel Vandoorne believes he performed "really, really strong" in some races in 2018, but due to McLaren's bad car; "no-one really noticed". 

Vandoorne scored a grand total of 12 points throughout the 2018 season - in comparison to his team-mate Fernando Alonso's 50 - failing to out-qualify the now-retired driver all season.

As a result, McLaren axed Vandoorne and replaced him with their reserve driver Lando Norris for 2019 and the Belgian will now compete in Formula E for next season.

Vandoorne thinks that McLaren's position towards the back of the grid meant that his strong performances weren't noticed as much.

"It's never easy when you're not in the right car," Vandoorne said to Motorsport Week. "I think I've been done some really, really strong races this season and no one's really noticed.

"If at that time you find yourself in one of the strongest cars, you're suddenly fighting for a victory or you're fighting for second or third. It just changes the perspective of the people so much, which is a shame in a way but I guess it's always been that way. 

"In that regard, it's been a shame to be in that position. Nothing more I could've done."