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Vandoorne: Super Formula races "not that exciting" due to lack of tyre wear

Stoffel Vandoorne has said that Super Formula's highly durable tyres do not make for particularly exciting racing.

Valentin Khorounzhiy

Edited: Jul 26, 2016, 10:52 AM

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Stoffel Vandoorne, Dandelion Racing

Polesitter Stoffel Vandoorne, Dandelion Racing

Stoffel Vandoorne, Dandelion Racing

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Stoffel Vandoorne, Dandelion Racing

Stoffel Vandoorne, Dandelion

Polesitter Stoffel Vandoorne, Dandelion Racing

Stoffel Vandoorne, Dandelion Racing

Reigning GP2 champion Vandoorne, who serves as McLaren's reserve driver in Formula 1, is competing for Docomo Team Dandelion Racing in this year's Super Formula campaign.

The Belgian had previously pointed out that the tyres were the main difference between F1 and Super Formula, and has now said that while it's nice to be able to "push every lap" in the latter series, it doesn't make for racing that's "as exciting".

"The races in Super Formula are not that exciting, to be honest," Vandoorne said.

"The first race in Suzuka I had a good start, was third and then I was pushing for 50 laps behind the guy in second and I couldn’t really do anything.

"It’s nice to be able to push every lap, but the racing isn’t equally nice. It’s very difficult to overtake because of the tyres holding on very well.

"In Formula 1, we sometimes see differences of three seconds per lap because someone’s on fresh tyres and someone’s struggling on older tyres. It’s sometimes easier to overtake. This is just how it is at the moment.

"[Super Formula] is nice to drive, especially in qualifying there’s a lot of grip, but the racing isn’t as exciting. "

Super Formula car "feels faster"

Vandoorne noted, however, that driving Super Formula's Dallara SF14 felt faster in certain aspects than F1 machinery.

"It’s very fast. It feels very fast," Vandoorne said.

"It would actually be interesting to bring a Super Formula car over to Europe and put it on the same track. I guess the best we could do is overlay Suzuka data. I think it would be very close.

"In a way it does feel a bit faster. The car is very light, the tyres on a qualifying lap are very good. It almost feels like we’re underpowered compared to the downforce we have.

"The top speeds aren’t so high, my top speed at Suzuka was around 280km/h. The racing would probably be better with a bit more power."

Two brake failures in two days

The Belgian has revealed that, after a brake issue pitched him out of fifth place in the most recent Super Formula race at Fuji, he suffered a repeat of the issue in a post-race test.

"The brakes failed again, that was interesting. The brake pads. Everyone has the same spec brakes, some others had some issues as well.

"It was quite worrying when that happens, not a nice feeling. There was no feeling during the run, it went from completely fine to the pedal going to the floor.

"Luckily it happened in Fuji, there are other Japanese tracks with less runoff."

Vandoorne had started the Fuji race from pole, having topped qualifying in the wet, but couldn't battle for victory in dry conditions.

"In the wet we were competitive. It was probably the only way we could get on pole. In the dry we still lacked some pace."

Additional reporting by Benjamin Vinel

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