Stoffel Vandoorne claimed the Belgian karting championship at the age of 16 and joined McLaren’s young driver program in 2013. He delivered a record-breaking season in the 2015 GP2 Series, securing the title with a level of dominance rarely seen in the category.

In 2016, as part of McLaren and Honda’s joint driver development strategy, Vandoorne raced in Super Formula with DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING, driving a Honda-powered car. Despite competing on unfamiliar circuits and adapting to a new culture, he claimed his first victory at Okayama in Round 5 and added a second win in Race 2 at Suzuka, finishing the season fourth in the championship.

That same year, he made his Formula One debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix, stepping in for the injured Fernando Alonso. Vandoorne finished tenth on his debut, scoring McLaren Honda’s first points of the season and earning high praise in Japan for his performance.

In 2017, Vandoorne was promoted to a full-time race seat with McLaren Honda as the successor to Jenson Button. However, persistent issues with car development meant that he and teammate Fernando Alonso endured a difficult season. Although McLaren switched power unit suppliers in 2018, the team’s struggles continued, and Vandoorne lost his F1 seat at the end of that year.

From December 2018, Vandoorne turned his focus to Formula E. His persistence paid off in the 2021–22 season, when he achieved his long-sought goal of becoming Formula E World Champion, reaffirming his status as a driver capable of winning at the highest level. Alongside Formula E, he has competed with Peugeot in the WEC Hypercar class, targeting overall victories at events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while also serving as a reserve driver for the Jaguar Formula E team.

In Formula One, Vandoorne plays a key role as a reserve driver for Aston Martin, which has formed a new partnership with Honda. He contributed to development work during the 2025 pre-season tests, including running 2026-spec tires, and remains an integral member of the team as a reserve driver heading into and beyond the 2026 season.