Stoffel Vandoorne was satisfied to claim his first points since Azerbaijan at the Mexican Grand Prix but was frustrated that only top 10 results get recognition.
The Belgian carried the flag for McLaren after Fernando Alonso retired within the first five laps for the second straight weekend and would deliver making a one-stop strategy work to make it through to eighth.
“I am very happy with the performance after Lap 1. We were last and we had to make a great recovery,” he told Autosport.
“[I’m] super happy with how everything went. We had some good overtakes on track, we made the tyres last in the crucial moments, we attacked when we had to attack.”
His engineer Tom Stallard later posted a picture on Twitter praising Vandoorne’s performance and in an attached photo revealed he was essentially driving on the carcass of the tyre at the front-left where the rubber had completely worn away.
Great drive today from @svandoorne
This great picture must be from near the end of his 57 lap stint on supersoft. On the inside of the front left tyre it looks smooth because the grip rubber is completely worn away. So impressive to drive tyres like this with no mistakes. https://t.co/3a6z4B17pV
— Tom Stallard (@Tom_Stallard) October 29, 2018
For the 26-year-old it was a rare highlight in what has otherwise been a tough season that will end with him leaving the British team after Abu Dhabi to compete in Formula E.
However, he also insisted some performances that didn’t result in top 10’s did not get the recognition they perhaps deserved.
“I think there have been some really good races a couple of races ago as well, but everybody notices [this one] because we are rewarded with points,” he claimed.
“It’s a great result for myself, but it’s also a great result for the team.
“It’s important for us for the Constructor’s Championship. Now I’m going to enjoy the last couple of races.”
