Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has ruled out a potential deal for Stoffel Vandoorne to join Toro Rosso next year, claiming that the Belgian is too slow for Formula 1.
Vandoorne will leave McLaren at the end of the 2018 season. The 26-year-old has had a tough year, last scoring points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He is also yet to out-qualify teammate Fernando Alonso this season, leading McLaren to take the decision to drop him.
He will be replaced by Lando Norris, McLaren’s current reserve driver. Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s junior squad, has already filled one of its seats for 2019 with Daniil Kvyat, however it is not known who will partner the Russian next season.