Behind Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, Aston Martin has an experienced Formula 1 driver in Stoffel Vandoorne as a backup. However, his future in the racing team has not yet been finally clarified. There are various options, says the Belgian.
Aston Martin reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne is currently working on “various plans and scenarios” for the 2026 season, as he explained in an interview with “Speedcafe”: “On the one hand we have a short-term perspective, but on the other hand we also have a long-term one.” We will “see how this develops,” the 33-year-old remained vague.
Vandoorne has been taking on the role of backup at Aston Martin since 2023; his active time as a regular driver in Formula 1 (2017 and 2018 for McLaren) dates back several years. He was already active as a substitute driver for Mercedes between 2019 and 2022.
At Aston Martin, the Belgian, who is very active in motorsports, continues to be heavily involved in the processes surrounding the races. Since the end of the Formula E season in the middle of the year, he has had “a lot more time” for his duties in Formula 1. He travels to the races more often and also spends “a lot more time in the simulator,” emphasized Vandoorne.
Vandoorne already worked with Fernando Alonso at McLaren in 2017 and 2018. “I think he still has the same motivation,” emphasized the substitute. The connection with Lance Stroll is also close: “We talk a lot on the weekends. We are about the same age and started Formula 1 around the same time.”
Formula 1: Vandoorne expects “big surprises”
Stroll, who is six years his junior, is “a hard worker,” said Vandoorne: “We just have to try to make the car a little faster now, and hopefully we’ll see results soon.”
The Formula 1 rule changes for 2026 represent both a challenge and an opportunity for Aston Martin, emphasized Vandoorne: “I think it’s still a bit uncertain for everyone at this point, to be honest. Certainly the cars will feel very different.” There could be “some big surprises”: “But at the moment everything is still open.”
In addition to his work as a Formula 1 reserve driver, Stoffel Vandoorne was active in Formula E and WEC. In Formula E he finished 14th with Maserati MSG Racing. At the same time, he drove in the Endurance World Championship for Peugeot TotalEnergies. He will not be in the cockpit in the last race in Bahrain, Theo Pourchaire will take his place.
His contract with Peugeot expires at the end of the year. In Formula E he will be moving to Jaguar Racing next season, where he will act as a substitute.