McLaren-Honda driver Stoffel Vandoorne is set to join team-mate Fernando Alonso in sustaining an engine-related grid penalty for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Both MCL32s have already exceeded their engine allocation for the 2017 campaign, meaning that the introduction of new components will lead to five- or 10-place grid penalties.
Honda has not yet confirmed the elements which will be changed in Vandoorne’s car, but the Belgian revealed that he will take a grid drop, with Alonso also poised to be demoted due to taking on new parts.
“I don’t think we have high hopes, but we’ll try our best from our side,” said Vandoorne.
“We have some penalties already to start the weekend, which isn’t ideal, but it’s the situation we’re in, so we’ll try our best, focus maybe a bit more on race runs, and hopefully we can play a bit during the race.
“We’re probably competing to start at the back of the grid.”
On whether a performance boost is expected from Honda this weekend, Vandoorne replied: “It’s difficult to say, to be honest. I think it’s probably more a question for Honda.
“I don’t think there’s many new introductions this weekend, so I don’t think it will be too different.”
Vandoorne, who has never raced on the Baku City Circuit, quipped that he has at least managed to rack up experience on the team’s “reliable” simulator.
“I definitely spent some time in the simulator, like I do before every Grand Prix,” he said of his preparations.
“I’ve done a lot of laps in there. At least our simulator is reliable, so I managed to do a fair amount of laps there!”
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