Stoffel Vandoorne insists the 2018 Formula 1 season is “definitely not a write-off” for McLaren following a number of high-profile change𒈔s amid a tough start to the year. 

McLaren had set high targets heading into the new campaign but has so far failed to meet its pre-season expect🐽ations following a switch to Renault power, ultimately leading to a restructuring of the team’s management.

A difficult start to the new campaign led to the resi🔴gnation of for🎀mer racing director Eric Boullier ahead of the British Grand Prix - a weekend that saw the Woking-based squad slip behind Force India to seventh place in the constructors’ standings. 

“I wouldn’t say it’s a write-off,” Vandoorne said. “We will still keep bringing parts to the track, understand where o🌟ur car is lacking performance because ultimately we’ll need to understand that for the design of next year’s car as well. 💫;

“It’s𒉰 not a write-off. I think the results definitely haven’t been what we wanted them to be, but if we look at where we were last year we’re still in a better shape, so༒ it’s definitely not a write-off.”

The reshuffle has placed McLaren Racing chief operating officer Simon Roberts at the heart of the technical team, with An﷽drea Stella promoted to performance director and&nbꦿsp;Gil de Ferran becoming sporting director. 

Vandoorne stressed that while he believes the changes will have a posit📖ive impact, he feels it i♈s unrealistic to expect “overnight changes” to McLaren’s fortunes. 

“There’s no specific timeline except we know that you can’t tra✃nsform a team from one night overnight or one race to a🌺nother, so it will require a bit of time,” he explained. 

“To put a timeframe on that 💫is extremely difficult. I don’t know how long it will take to 👍get back to winning ways, I hope sooner rather than later obviously, but I think some things needed to change and like I said it’s a positive first step for the future.”