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Now Alonso is retiring and Vandoorne not guaranteed a seat for next year...who do you see being McLaren's drivers for next year?

EDITED now Sainz Jr is confirmed

1 option now possible!

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I think Sainz for definite with the blessing of Alonso, then I'm hoping that Vandoorne gets another chance, that might depend on how much Norris wants the seat but with Norris being quite a introspective person he may feel he's quite not ready for F1 given how he's not entirely happy with his F2 season.

I know Ocon is also in the reckoning but the situation surrounding Force India is such a mess that I can't fathom out who will end up being Stroll's teammate.

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Sainz and Vandoorne, with Norris either loaned out to Toro Rosso or continuing in F2 depending on whether he or Russell takes the F2 title (and, I guess, depending on what his contract stipulates).

Vandoorne gets a second chance after coming into F1 in a pretty tough situation. It can't be easy coming into F1 in a POS car that's horribly unreliable, limiting track time (both pre-season and during the season itself) but it's even worse when your teammate is one of the very best for getting the absolute maximum out of exactly that kind of machinery and that sort of situation. Maybe Stoffel isn't all he was hyped up to be but up against Sainz and in his third full F1 season, it'll be much easier to tell. Meanwhile Sainz finds a home at a team that has the resources to be a lot better than it has been. And both would be potentially expendable in the unlikely event McLaren make huge progress and are able to entice Alonso back to F1, or if they want Norris driving for them come 2020.

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I think Sainz is nailed on.

Tough call on the second seat, but with Vandoorne not seemingly performing against Alonso I think Norris may get the nod.

If George wins F2 though, maybe they might leave Norris in there for another year to see if Vandoorne improves? If Norris wins F2 it could be interesting and force their hand.

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Stoffel has had a touch of luck there as he was almost certainly out the door had Alonso stayed another year. As it stands now Mclaren won't want to go into 2019 with a totally new driver lineup.

From now on though, there is no hiding place for Vandoorne. Getting beaten by Alonso was expected. Should Sainz beat him then I doubt he has an F1 future beyond next season.

I've been a little disappointed with Vandoorne to be honest. Alonso is a great driver but I'd have liked for him to have beaten him more often. He's very much in Fernando's shadow at a point in time where he should be starting to chip back at the old man. I reckon he'll get another year though.

I'd like to see what Norris has to offer, but Sainz makes sense.

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Olly, would you please correct Vandoorne's name in the poll please? Many thanks!

It is clear that Vandoorne should stay. He recently got deserved support from Alonso, which should count for something, and the change of chassis that was arranged for Hungary showed he was not the problem. That might still leave the team as the problem, but it's not something a driver can change.

Sainz seems to me to be the best choice of driver available, provided he becomes a McLaren driver instead of a Red Bull hand-on-loan. Experience of Renault engines and operating differences between his two/three previous teams might prove useful.

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I'll have pity on both drivers that would drive McLaren next year. But history has shown us that when Alonso leaved a team, that specific team would progress once again. Sainz & Vandoorne for me.

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Feel The Fourth

It will probably be Sainz and Vandoorne, but if it were up to me it would be Sainz and Perez. They need an experienced, known entity on that team along with young talent. I think things may start turning around for McLaren though. While it’s sad to see Alonso go I do feel it was necessary and they are trying to restructure their team. Vandoorne is still a huge question mark for me but I understand them giving him another chance. But he has to perform next year or he’s out.

I just wonder if Ricciardo knew about this before he signed with Renault?
Ricciardo and Sainz would be good, as would Ricciardo and Vandoorne.

However as Ricciardo has ruled himself out, Sainz and Vandoorne.

Shame as I would like to see Norris get the drive, but they will not change both drivers(will they?)

I think if Norris wins the GP2 championship he has a chance. If not then spending another year at that level will do him no harm he's still very young.

I don't know if a Sainz-Vandoorne lineup is what McLaren need right now

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Yeah. Both are young & don't have experience enough to help the team grow. I think Vandoorne's on the bubble. McLaren would be more than pleased to have Sainz onboard. Norris I think is also out of frame (for now) as they need someone with experience to help sail the ship!

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Feel The Fourth

The Stoff and Carlos for me. McLaren should get stable on the drivers side for the next few years unless one of them is severely underperforming.

Alonso not being there anymore will get the car going in the right direction. I am of the opinion that Alonso is not good at giving correct feedback. Driver feedback is an important aspect of development, and as I have said before, a driver perceived ability to drive around problems is detrimental to development as it can mask problem areas. I also believe this contributes in a way to a car/team getting faster once he is not there. We cannot jus say, "ohh bad luck" or "The Alonso curse", there must be something else going on.

McLaren will become better next year, this is why rate Kimi better than Alonso in that area. When Kimi says a car is good, it is good and you will see both drivers being fast. Is a fast car regardless, whereas Alonso seems to be the only one who can be fast, again because some say, he is "overdriving" a bad car, maybe we should give a credit to the idea that a car is bad, in whatever small amount, because of Alonso.

I know I will get flamed, but is the way I see things. A great driver, not among the select few we can call greatest ever, a bad politician, and it cost him.

Again Carlos and Stoffel for at least two years.

Pascal Wehrlein.

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The end is near

Sainz and Norris. Vandoorne has not been good enough. It may well come down to whether Norris wins the F2 championship though.

First time since 2006 that Mclaren won't have a world champion in the car. Speaks volumes about how low they have dropped. They couldn't even attract Daniel Ricciardo... smh

I voted for Sainz and Vandoorne, which is what I think they'll have.

Sainz is a driver with some references, so he'll provide a good final assessment of Vandoorne. If he beats Vandoorne, Stoffel is out.

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Also, if Stoffel beats Sainz, Sainz is out. Norris will be in the car in 2020 regardless.

The Stats don't look good for both drivers, does it?

Nope, I'd say they're on a collision course and one of them is about to get a serious blow to his career. Norris is almost certainly in that car in 2020 - if Alonso isn't, which is also a looming threat - and only one of them at most is going to come out looking good.

If Sainz beats Vandoorne, he's never beaten a teammate and he's clearly not a future champion. If Vandoorne beats Sainz, he's only ever bested a demoralized Kvyat, was beaten by Hulk, and has now been beaten by someone utterly dominated by a top driver. It's not a good situation for either of them. A bit like Ricciardo/Hulk, except that the loser of that battle will still be viewed as a very competent midfielder.

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PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 15 podiums): 3rd in 2016
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Lando has to be nailed on for next year.
Remember there is a rule that exists (unless they have got rid of it and I've not seen the change) the f2 champion can not defend his title and is excluded from racing in the series next year.
Given people like Palmer and other champions in f2 and gp2 before then. The hopes are not good if they don't find a seat in formula 1 the next season. As they will fizzle out into obscurity very quickly
The only notable exceptions to the rule have been Hamilton (2006) and leclerc (2017) leclerc has the world at his feet and a nailed on Ferrari drive. And Hamilton was lucky he had McLaren ready to give him a shot in 2007.

Norris has to win F2 first. He isn't doing so at the moment.

I don't think he's going to, either.

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Pick 10 | 1st x3, 2nd x3, 3rd x8
2019: 11th | 2018: 5th | 2017: 6th | 2016: 8th | 2015: 2nd | 2014: 15th | 2013: 17th | 2012: 11th

Not this year, no. But I think his chances are excellent if Russel wins this year and Norris does 2019, which would be right in line for him taking the Macca seat in 2020 like I expect.

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PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 15 podiums): 3rd in 2016
TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017
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Indeed. I assumed we were talking about Norris winning the F2 title this year, rather than never winning it at all. Which I suppose is a possibility if he finishes 2nd but graduates to F1 next year, but if he doesn't win it this year and is back in F2 next year then I'd expect him to win it quite comfortably.

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Pick 10 | 1st x3, 2nd x3, 3rd x8
2019: 11th | 2018: 5th | 2017: 6th | 2016: 8th | 2015: 2nd | 2014: 15th | 2013: 17th | 2012: 11th

Just throwing a spanner in guys, but I read that if Mclaren had not contracted Norris to drive next year by September (start or end I do not know) he was a 'free agent' so could do what he wants. What options are open I don't know, but he could move of his own choosing. I think he has done enough in the low series to show he is worth having, so a move to STR or other will not depend on Mclaren. I take it as if he is still there by October, he is driving for them next year

Only drivers with no other option will go there.

I have no faith in Vandoorne, I know its tough to be teammate with and then compete against world class driver like Alonso, but still.
I think Sainz was always overrated, said so when he was at TR, but at the end of the day McLaren is $#ittier than their drivers. So other than driver desperate to stay in F1, and desperate to enter F1, I dont see anyone else wanting to go there.

On that point, I dont know why I entered this thread. I have no faith in anyone on that list not the team anymore. I will see myself out.
(Norris is a talent and I do think he will be wasted at current McLaren, but that is his ticket to F1.)

Saint confirmed on a multi-year deal, with McLaren saying they’ll communicate the full driver line-up in due course.

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Pick 10 | 1st x3, 2nd x3, 3rd x8
2019: 11th | 2018: 5th | 2017: 6th | 2016: 8th | 2015: 2nd | 2014: 15th | 2013: 17th | 2012: 11th

yes, have done now. My bad!

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F1 Fan: 26 years and counting...
Grand Prixs Attended:
British x3 * Hungary * Italy * USA * Spain * Belgium

Grand Prixs on bucket list...
Canada * Mexico * Japan * Germany *

I don't think he will get the seat but I really want to see him back in F1 - Toro Rosso maybe??

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F1 Fan: 26 years and counting...
Grand Prixs Attended:
British x3 * Hungary * Italy * USA * Spain * Belgium

Grand Prixs on bucket list...
Canada * Mexico * Japan * Germany *

How about they get Massa out of retirement

He's experienced and IMP was about matched with Sainz in his last season. They at least would probably pay him the money he wanted compared to Williams. Unless Massa certainly doesn't want to race any more, I would't say this is 100% impossible. I think he'd still be a fair bit better than Vandoorne.

Good, 2 year for Carlos is perfect, now at least one year for Stoff, he deserves at least one year without Alonso. This is good for McLaren

Would seem sensible to extend Vandoorne for a year, if nothing else to benchmark Sainz and the performance of the car. Not terribly excited by any of the other options, personally, and I think if they produce another dog that might be a double edged sword for e.g. Norris were he to start.

Unlikely, I admit, but what about Gasly? Renault might like a French driver in one of their teams.

Not sure Red Bull would let him slip away that easily though.

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I finally seem to have made a correct prediction. If you can call it that. And now it's fingers crossed that McLaren will not forget they have two drivers who are raring to show them the way up again. But this is McLaren, so I'm not holding my breath.

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Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity.

Maria de Villota - Jules Bianchi

With Sainz confirmed at McLaren, Gasly is surely nailed on to replace Ricciardo at Red Bull? I can't see him wanting to go to McLaren instead based on this season's form.

I understand where you’re coming from but to be fair to Alonso, he didn’t demand anything while at Renault the first or 2nd time around and since his return to McLaren he’s been doing one thing and one thing only which is try to squeeze every last ounce out of his cars and his team and has been helpful with Vandoorne and got along great with Button.

The only times he was a diva was at McLaren the first time around and then with Ferrari in how he demanded to get priority over his 2 teammates, one of which didn’t much care and got on with his driving how he always has... however the heck he wants according to how the team listen to and consider his input.

I don’t like branding anyone as one thing that defines them as a whole when that’s not the case. It’s unfair to them and the Internet is such that some folks read something and adopt it as their own belief and then reiterate it and it grows until it comes to be believed or perceived as fact.

If McLaren do improve it will be a progression that has evolved from the engineering side and some of it may indeed stem from Alonso’s input.

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I think it's concerning for Vandoorne that Sainz has been announced but not him.

If I had to guess I'd say they're waiting to see how he performs against Sainz and whether Norris wins the F2 title.

I think Vandoorne has had a good chance to show what he has got and has confirmed to me that he is Button level which is still very good but not leading edge. I would like to see Norris in the seat to see how he compares against Sainz otherwise Ocon. If Norris does not get an F1 seat I would like to see him in Indy with Alonso who rates him very highly.

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