McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne claims preparing for his second season in Formula 1 was a more "natural" feeling than it was 12 months ago.

The Belgian arrived with the British team in 2017 as a highly-rated rookie after winning GP2 and Super Formula but it was only in the second half of last year that he started to show that potential having been hampered by Honda's engine problems.

Now the 25-year-old heads into the new season looking to reaffirm himself as a driver worthy of the plaudits he scored in junior series and, despite McLaren's occasional problems, Vandoorne feels better placed.

"It’s definitely very different, the feeling this year compared to last year," he was quoted by F1i.com.

"Obviously last year I was a rookie, I had to learn a lot of things, [this year] I turned up and the moment I stepped into the car everything feels so natural, normal, straightaway, where you are, you have a good feeling about everything."

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The British team's switch from Honda to Renault power for 2018 has also brought hopes of much greater competitiveness with enigmatic teammate Fernando Alonso talking of podiums and even wins.

Vandoorne is much more measured in his approach, however.

“It’s too early to tell," he said. "The feeling is positive, I don’t want to make any predictions now, I think it’s better for us to keep working hard and deliver a strong package.

"Then it’s up to us to go racing and deliver some good results, we’ll have to wait and see."