Ickx backs Vandoorne to become 'No.1' driver

Jacky Ickx has backed fellow Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne to eventually become a 'No.1' driver in Formula 1.

Ickx (73-year-old), who won 8 grands prix during his career until 1979, said Vandoorne has struggled to shine amid McLaren's obvious problems in the past two years.

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He said: "The time that passes never comes back, but I remain positive and enthusiastic. We are not in the team so we don't know what's going on but clearly McLaren is not in the place we got used to."

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There are problems, and so in a period of concern and concentration of energy to get out of the hole, Alonso is clearly the number 1.

Stoffel is a fast driver and has lost none of his talent. Perhaps he just lacks that little bit of success so that he can break through and establish himself as a number 1 in the near or medium-term future.

"I still believe in him," Ickx added.