'Hands off Vandoorne', says McLaren F1 boss Dennis

'Hands off Vandoorne', says McLaren F1 boss Dennis

MONTE CARLO (PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO) - McLaren boss Ron Dennis delivered a clear warning to rival Formula One teams on Thursday that rising Belgian star Stoffel Vandoorne is "not for sale".

McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne

Vandoorne, the Honda-powered team's reserve driver impressed as a late deputy for two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso at the Bahrain Grand Prix in early April when he finished 10th on debut.

He now looks set to land a race seat with the team next year -- as a likely replacement for 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button, who is currently racing under a one-year contract with the team.

Alonso has a contract for 2017.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dennis said: "Stoffel is an extremely talented, intelligent and hard-working young driver, with an enormous amount of potential, and who importantly knows how to win.

"As such, he's an integral part of McLaren-Honda's future and any other team that imagines they may be able to poach him away from us is very much mistaken.

"As regards our 2017 driver line-up, we aren't yet ready to commit or communicate, but you may rest assured that Stoffel is not for sale."

Vandoorne, 24, won the GP2 title last year and has gained further experience in Japan's Super Formula this year.

Button, 36, who has started 289 Grands Prix, started his career with Williams and has been linked with a return to the British team next season.

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