Villeneuve unimpressed by Vandoorne

©McLaren

Never a man to hold back his opinion, Jacques Villeneuve says he isn't impressed with Stoffel Vandoorne's performance to date.

The 1997 world champion admits he is disappointed with what the McLaren driver has shown this year and  considers he has yet to prove he is good enough to thrive in F1.

"It's disappointing, because he has not once stood up to Alonso," Villeneuve said.

"And unless he beats Alonso, you cannot call him great or even good enough.

"When I debuted in 1996, I started beating Damon Hill, an established name. I put the Williams on pole position in my first Grand Prix.

"You need to set the bar high in Formula 1," he said.

The Belgian has indeed lacked a good performance to put him on the map this year, although Honda's dismal reliability has also played its part in Vandoorne's lackluster start.

But former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle belives it would be unfair to right the Belgian off just yet.

"The first six races were nothing to write home about," said the Brit.

"But you have to give him the benefit of the doubt, because at his age you do not suddenly forget how to win, as he did in all those other categories.

"And to criticise him now is not fair because he doesn't have a good car. I continue to believe in Stoffel, and I'm sure McLaren does too," Brundle added.

 

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