The Monaco Grand Prix is the most prestigious event on the Formula One schedule. It takes place on the tortuous streets of the Principality and the intoxicating mix of glamour and history makes it one of the most desirable events for drivers and teams to win.

Although this will not be the first time that McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne has raced in Monaco, with several years racing here in GP2 (now F2) and the World Series by Renault, it will his first time at the wheel of a Formula One car and he is not daunted by the thought, in fact it is just the opposite and he can't wait for the action to get started.

After a tough start to his rookie season, the young Belgian racer is looking forward to the upgraded version of his McLaren Honda, which was introduced in Spain, here this weekend…

“Although the Spanish Grand Prix result was frustrating and of course not a result that we were looking for, we were still able to find some positives over the weekend," he said. "The upgrades we brought to the car have delivered the performance we were hoping, and we managed to take a lot of information from each day on track, which has been really useful for the engineers and the design team back at the factory and is helping our programme from race to race.”

“Since Barcelona, I've been back at MTC in the simulator, and I feel ready and excited to head to Monaco. It's the first time that I'll be racing in my ‘back yard', as it's recently become another home race for me. It'll also be my first time behind the wheel there in a Formula 1 car, but it's not the first time I've driven on the famous Monaco circuit."

"I raced there in GP2 for three years, and also in World Series by Renault, so I know it pretty well and enjoy driving there. It's one of those tracks where even if you have the best-performing car, but you're a victim of bad luck in the traffic, it can affect the outcome of the whole weekend. It makes for really exciting racing for the fans, and anything can happen there.”

As is widely known, Fernando Alonso won't be his teammate here this weekend, as Jenson Button fills in for the former champion as he attempts to win the Indy 500, and Stoffel is thrilled to be racing alongside the Brit once again. (Stoffel raced with Jenson in last year's Bahrain GP when he stood in for the injured Fernando Alonso)

“It's also great to see Jenson back in McLaren-Honda colours and alongside me in the garage. Both of us love driving on this circuit and I hope it'll be the best opportunity for us on track so far this season. I know both of us will also be keeping one eye on everything happening in Indianapolis, too, and hope Fernando can also enjoy a good weekend over there.”