Stoffel Vandoorne has admitted his first full season in F1 tested his self-confidence.
A standout junior driver, the Belgian struck early trouble this year as he struggled to adapt to F1, McLaren-Honda, and having Fernando Alonso as his teammate.
Asked what 2017 taught him, the 25-year-old told Het Laatste Nieuws: "That you should never doubt yourself.
"That you have to stick to your self-confidence, no matter what, and I did that.
"Ok, in those first difficult months I felt a bit of doubt here and there, but I also said to myself that it is not possible that I lost all my talent over one winter time.
"It has made me stronger for the rest of my career, and for the day that I get a car to fight for wins. I have learned a lot from all those problems, how to deal with them and how to find a solution," Vandoorne added.