Tag: Stoffel Vandoorne

  • Jaguar TCS Racing confirm reserve roles

    Jaguar TCS Racing has today announced Stoffel Vandoorne will join the team as Reserve Driver for Season 12, alongside long-serving simulator and reserve driver Tom Dillmann.

    Vandoorne, the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Champion, joins the team after a year at Maserati MSG Racing.

    With more than 100 Formula E race starts to his name, the Belgian brings a wealth of experience and momentum from an impressive 2024/25 season – capped by his performance in Tokyo that lead Maserati to its sole victory in the GEN3 Evo era.

    His Formula E journey spans seven seasons and includes a standout rookie year with HWA Racelab, a three year tenure at Mercedes-EQ Formula E team, where he secured the Drivers’ world title and two seasons with DS PENSKE before his move to Maserati.

    He joins Tom Dillmann, Jaguar TCS Racing’s long-serving simulator and reserve driver, who enters his sixth year with the team. Together, Vandoorne and Dillmann will play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s technical development – contributing both on track and behind the scenes as they help develop a competitive GEN4 contender for the 2026/27 season.

    I’m thrilled to be joining Jaguar TCS Racing as reserve driver for the upcoming season. It’s a team I’ve long admired for its performance and professionalism, and I’m excited to contribute to their continued success. I’m looking forward to supporting the team both on and off the track and helping push the Jaguar I-TYPE 7 to its full potential.
    Vandoorne on the news.

    It’s a real pleasure to be continuing with Jaguar TCS Racing for my sixth season. Over the years, I’ve seen the team grow into a true championship contender, and I’m proud to have played a part in that journey. There’s a great energy heading into this season, and I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together.
    Dillman on the news.

    We’re proud to welcome Stoffel Vandoorne to Jaguar TCS Racing as our reserve driver for the upcoming season. Stoffel’s credentials speak for themselves – a former Drivers’ World Champion with over 100 race starts and a wealth of experience across seven seasons. We’re also glad to retain Tom Dillmann, who has been a hugely valuable member of Jaguar TCS Racing for the past six years. His dedication and technical expertise have played a key role in our development, and we’re grateful for his continued support as we prepare for Formula E’s most exciting era of racing yet.
    Ian James, Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal.

  • RND 8 – Tokyo E-Prix

    The Safety Car led the pack away amid soggy conditions, after some 25mm of rain fell over the course of the morning in the lead up to lights out.

    After four laps, the field formed for a standing start and Rowland headed Mortara through the Turn 1 and 2 chicane, while Barnard aimed to get his car’s nose up the inside of the Mahindra through the opening left-hander.

    A few drivers – the highest-placed of which being Sebastien Buemi – jumped for the first of their mandatory 50kW four-wheel drive Attack Mode boosts.

    Even with 4WD, the Envision still looked a handful – the Swiss narrowly keeping his car out of the wall before dispatching Barnard for third at Turn 1 on Lap 7.

    Of the leaders, Mortara and Barnard went next in Attack – the Mahindra driver taking full advantage to pinch P2 back from Buemi but finding himself three seconds shy of leader Rowland when his initial 50kW boost ended.

    On Lap 10, Rowland found himself up on energy and three second clear out-front ahead of Mortara, Buemi, Barnard and de Vries rounding out the top 5.

    Lap 13, saw Guenther’s car go red and grind to a halt, demanding a Red Flag so it could be cleared safely.

    The pack were led round by the Safety Car to a standing start on Lap 15, with Rowland firing off the line once again to lead the pack through Turn 1 – flying to a two-second advantage once again.

    Of the lead few, Barnard was first to move for PIT BOOST on Lap 18, with Vandoorne having gone first, pre-Red Flag – a god send for the Belgian, with the time lost during that stop immediately wiped out with the enforced restart.

    As the stops began to shake out, Barnard managed to jump Mortara while Vandoorne did indeed hit what would be the front ahead of Rowland, Barnard, Mortara and Buemi.

    At Turn 2 on Lap 28, Vandoorne ran wide before lighting the rear tyres up into a spin.
    With a 25 second lead over Rowland, though, it ultimately wouldn’t matter.

    From there, it was a waltz to the flag for the Maserati MSG Racing driver, with the scrap in-behind the Belgian.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Vandoorne, P2: Rowland, P3: Barnard, P4: Buemi, P5: Ticktum, P6: Mortara, P7: da Costa, P8: Vergne, P9: Frijns and P10: Cassidy.

  • Vandoorne & Hughes join Maserati

    Maserati MSG Racing announces all-new driver line-up of Season 8 World Champion Stoffel Vandoorne and Jake Hughes.

    Vandoorne heads into a seventh season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, while Hughes sets about a third campaign – with Maserati earmarking him as one of the brightest talents on the grid since his and NEOM McLaren’s bow in Season 9 at the start of GEN3.

    Vandoorne has been a fixture at the sharp end of the Formula E grid since joining from McLaren’s Formula 1 team.
    He claimed the Drivers’ World Championship in Season 8 with Mercedes-EQ and the Belgian has three wins, 16 podiums and eight Julius Baer Pole Positions to his name.

    Hughes put together one of the strongest rookie campaigns in Formula E, with the British driver securing pole in his third race in the series.

    After serving as Maserati MSG Racing’s Reserve Driver in Season 7, when the team previously competed under the guise of Venturi, Hughes is a familiar face to the team and as such will make a natural return in Season 11.

    The drivers will make their first appearance with Maserati MSG Racing in Formula E’s pre-season test at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain in a critical week of preparation from 4th to 7th November.

    I’m very happy to be joining Maserati MSG Racing next season and I’m proud to be associated with such an iconic name within motorsport as Maserati. I’m excited to start working with the team – although I haven’t worked directly with them before, I know the team well, both from my time at DS PENSKE but also from my time with Mercedes when we shared a powertrain with Venturi. They are a great bunch of people, very skilled, very determined and I’m really looking forward to working with together moving forwards. Hopefully we’ll have a lot of success and fight for victories and championships together.
    Vandoorne on the news.

    I’m over the moon to be joining Maserati MSG Racing. The success that the team has had, as one of the founding teams in Formula E, speaks for itself. On a personal level, I have worked with the team previously so I know them well and I’m genuinely looking forward to going back. I know that the season has only just finished but I honestly can’t wait to get over to the HQ in Monaco and start working with the engineers, get on the simulator and really get cracking with our prep for Season 11. This marks the start of an exciting new chapter in my career, and I know that the best is yet to come.
    Hughes on the news.

  • Vandoorne and DS PENSKE part ways

    DS PENSKE has announced that Stoffel Vandoorne, the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Champion, will be parting ways with the team at the end of Season 10.

    The team signed Vandoorne alongside double champion, Jean-Eric Vergne for Season 9 and the start of the Gen3 era in what was at the time hailed as something of a super line-up, counting three titles between the pair.

    While he hasn’t added to his haul of three race victories over the last two years, he did finish on the podium in Monaco earlier this year.
    He rounded out the current campaign with a pair of ninth place finishes in London last week.

    Vandoorne’s next destination is currently unclear, with speculation linking him to a move to NEOM McLaren – which was previously the HWA and Mercedes squad which Vandoorne raced for in Season 5 to 8.

    The other Stellantis-affiliated team, Maserati is a more likely destination, as both drivers have left the team this season.

    Outside of Formula E, Vandoorne currently drives for another Stellantis brand, Puegeot, in the World Endurance Championship and serves as a test and reserve driver for Aston Martin’s Formula One team.

    We are truly grateful to Stoffel for his commitment and the outstanding performances he has delivered for DS PENSKE. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
    Jay Penske, Team Principal of DS PENSKE.

    My journey with DS PENSKE has been an incredible experience. I am thankful to the team for their unwavering support and look forward to new challenges ahead.
    Vandoorne on leaving the team.

  • Vergne & Vandoorne extend DS PENSKE deals

    I’m very happy to continue the adventure with DS PENSKE. As one chapter closes, we have to focus on what is ahead. I love racing, and above all, I love winning. It’s a very special feeling that I want to live again with the team. I have a real relationship of trust with the engineers and the mechanics, their dedication and hard work is truly inspiring. I want to reward the belief that Jay Penske and the rest of the team placed in me. At a start of a season, all the points start back to zero. With Stoffel, we form a solid duo. We had a couple of good races and we are working extremely hard to come back to the top.We just got to try and do better, we will not stop until we do. My absolute focus and determination are at the highest, my motivation totally intact, even greater than the years before to bring some new titles with the team.

    Vergne on staying with the team.

    I am delighted to continue the journey we started a year ago with the team. Consistency and stability will be the foundations of our future success. JEV and I are one of the best duos on the set. We have made some significant steps over the last season and we are getting stronger together. Consistency in performance is our aim for this upcoming season. The ultimate goal is to win the championship. I am excited to help continue to build on that momentum and pick up plenty of trophies with the team!

    Vandoorne on the news.

    I am very excited to continue with Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne behind the wheels of our GEN3 car. It was a straightforward decision for the team to keep intact what is unquestionably one of the strongest pairings on the grid. Season 9 was one of growth and we have learned from every success but also every setback. None of us were satified with finishing fifth in the championship. We know we can do better and with JEV and Stoffel bringing an incredibly high racing IQ combined with an unwaivering desire to win we intend to be challenging for the World Championship in Season 10.

    Jay Penske, Owner and Team Principal.
  • Vandoorne & Drugovich added to McLaren’s reserve pool

    Aston Martin have announced that their reserve drivers, Stoffel Vandoorne and Felipe Drugovich can be used by McLaren for the majority of the 2023 season.

    Vandoorne was announced as an Aston Martin reserve in November, the former McLaren racer will be sharing duties with reigning F2 Champion Drugovich, who had earlier joined the team’s development programme.

    Aston Martin stated that McLaren will have access to Vandoorne and Drugovich for the first 15 races of the 23 race 2023 schedule.

    It follows a similar announcement that Mercedes reserve, Mick Schumacher will also be part of McLaren’s pool for the upcoming campaign.

    Both Aston Martin and McLaren head into the new season with revised driver line-ups: Fernando Alonso has joined Lance Stroll at the Silverstone squad and F3 and F2 Champion, Oscar Piastri links up with Lando Norris at the Woking squad.

  • Vandoorne joins AM as test & reserve driver

    Aston Martin has announced that reigning Formula E World Champion, Stoffel Vandoorne will be joining the team as test and reserve driver for the 2023 season.

    The Silverstone based team, revealed that he will be sharing duties with Formula 2 Champion, Felipe Drugovich who joined the team’s driver development programme back in September – with Aston Martin saying that Vandoorne will undertake an intensive simulation and development programme at the team’s Silverstone factory.

    Vandoorne is a former GP2 winner and has made 41 Grand Prix starts – all for McLaren from 2016 to 2018. The Belgian driver has also been the Mercedes reserve driver since 2019, whilst also racing in Formula E – where he won the championship earlier this year.

    Vandoorne will be conducting his role with Aston Martin alongside his commitments in Formula E where he will be racing for the DS Penske team for the 2022/23 season.

    It is incredibly exciting to be stepping into a reserve-driver role in Formula 1 – and I’m delighted to be doing it with Aston Martin. I’ve watched with great interest how the team has developed and expanded operationally, and I know how incredibly determined it is to make progress in every area. Joining Fernando [Alonso], who I already know from my Formula 1 racing career, and Lance [Stroll], to help them develop and improve next year’s car will be a terrific job, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge – and reward – of working together with the whole organisation at Silverstone.

    Vandoorne on his new role.

    Stoffel has all the capabilities we need for this new and expanded role within the team: he is fast, analytical, hard-working and a fantastic team player, and will fit perfectly into our growing organisation, working alongside our other test driver, Felipe Drugovich. The whole team is hugely motivated for next year, and the appointment of Stoffel, alongside Fernando, Lance and Felipe, gives extra depth to our fantastic driver line-up. This will be a significant role for Stoffel, and we will be reliant on him to work hard with both our track and simulation and engineering teams to improve our performance for 2023 and beyond.

    Mike Krack, Aston Martin Team Principal.
  • DS Automobiles, Penske Autosport to partner as DS Penske

    DS Automobiles one of Formula E’s most successful marques is set to begin a new chapter as a partner of PENSKE AUTOSPORT, with the newly christened DS Penske.

    Not only this, they have confirmed their driver line-up for Season 9, they welcome the current World Champion, Stoffel Vandoorne alongside double champion, Jean-Eric Vergne.

    With the new partnership alongside one of motorsport’s most recognisable team names sealed, and two of the quickest drivers on the grid in the bag. With the Director of DS Performance, Thomas Chevaucher has his eyes on silverware including the world titles.

    DS was among one of the first manufacturers to enter Formula E back in 2015, and the French marque continues to see the world’s foremost electric racing series as key to its race to road technology transfer and research development.

    The start of a new association is always a big moment, and all of us at DS Performance are eager to begin this new adventure with PENSKE AUTOSPORT. We are starting this partnership in the best possible way by having two champions in the team! Thanks to Stoffel and Jean-Eric, we probably have one of the best line-ups and also the fastest pairing on the grid. With the powertrain and software expertise of DS Performance, we are now in an ideal position to continue our hunt for victories and titles.

    Thomas Chevaucher.

    We’re thrilled to partner with DS Automobiles, an iconic automotive brand who shares our ambitions in striving for excellence. This is a major milestone for our team, and something we have been looking forward to for years. Together we will push the technological boundaries in our hunt for performance and wins. With world champion driver Stoffel and two-time champion Jean-Eric, I am confident that we have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid!

    Jay Penske, Founder and Owner of PENSKE AUTOSPORT.
  • Round 16- Seoul E-Prix

    Free Practice 3-

    Edoardo Mortara headed the way in the final practice session ahead of the Hana Bank Seoul E-Prix Round 16 with the fastest time of the weekend – a 1m 21.019s.

    Mortara’s title charge ended in disappointment with a puncture in Round 15 but the Venturi driver is looking to support the team’s bid to outstrip Mercedes-EQ in the teams standings. The Swiss driver pipped Antonio Felix da Costa and Jake Dennis.

    Sacha Fenestraz made his bow in Formula E as he stepped in for Antonio Giovinazzi at Dragon / Penske Autosport with the Italian driver suffering a hand injury in Saturday’s race.

    Qualifying-

    Antonio Felix da Costa fired to an unstoppable Julius Baer Pole Position for Round 16, leaving Edo Mortara no scraps to feed on through a perfect lap. No driver had made more appearances on the front row this season more than Mortara.

    There was just one hundredth between them in the knockouts prior and da Costa piled the pressure on over the lap to secure pole by two tenths come the final couple of corners. Millimetre perfect – with no mistakes from the DS driver for his eighth pole position. He was the first and last Gen2 pole sitter…

    Venturi still looked well placed for their Teams’ scrap with Mercedes, Drivers table topper, Stoffel Vandoorne was behind in fourth. Mitch Evans has it all to do as he starts in the mid-pack after failing to progress to the Duels.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Da Costa, P2: Mortara, P3: Dennis, P4: Vandoorne, P5: Frijns, P6: Di Grassi, P7: Ticktum, P8: Vergne, P9: Guenther and P10: Sette Camara.

    Round 16-

    Stoffel Vandoorne steered his way to silverware with a second place finish in the Seoul E-Prix to make more than sure of sealing the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Championship as well as the Teams’ World Championship for Mercedes-EQ.

    Mortara checked out once he hit the front via a stunning dummy saw him complete a successful switchback on Julius Baer Polesitter, Antonio Felix da Costa on Lap 3. From there onwards, he managed the gap and used his energy perfectly to sign off his and Venturi’s campaign in style.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Mortara, P2: Vandoorne, P3: Dennis, P4: Frijns, P5: Askew, P6: Vergne, P7: Evans, P8: Cassidy, P9: Buemi and P10: Da Costa.

    World Champions; wow. It’s just the best feeling ever. Just look at the season we’ve had – the consistency and the car has been amazing and the team has done an incredible job – I think every single one of us deserves it. What we’ve accomplished is something special.

    Vandoorne on his Championship wins.

    This is huge. I’m just about holding it together at the moment. I’m so pleased for Stoffel – there isn’t anybody that deserves it more than him. He has been so consistent this year – everything he’s put into the building and team development – he’s been such an instrumental part of our success and to see him achieve this is a dream come true for him – it’s phenomenal. And then to do it in Mercedes-EQ’s final year as well. This is a very special moment.

    Team Principal Ian James.

    Thats the 21/2022 Formula E World Championship complete! A massive congratulations to Vandoorne and Mercedes on an incredible season.

    But when one season ends another one is coming… We are expecting a lot of driver news now the season has ended, but where will the World Champ go? There is a few possibilities… Keep your eyes peeled for more!

  • Round 6- Monaco E-Prix

    Round 6- Monaco E-Prix

    Round 6 is here and we are in Monaco, lets take a look on how its gone!

    FP1-

    Reigning champion Nyck de Vries set the pace in the first session of the 2022 Monaco E-Prix, setting a 1m 31.154s, with Nick Cassidy doing well just a tenth of a second of the Dutchman’s laptime.

    Edoardo Mortara was next in the order but almost half a second back on home soil for ROKiT Venturi Racing, whilst the winner of the 2021 Monaco E-Prix rounded fourth.

    The full top 10 were: P1: de Vries, P2: Cassidy, P3: Mortara, P4: Da Costa, P5: Buemi, P6: Lotterer, P7: Bird, P8: Vergne, P9: Dennis and P10: Evans.

    FP2-

    Antonio Felix da Costa topped the timesheets in Free Practice 2 with a 1m 30.435s. The season 6 champion headed Jaguar TCS Racing’s double Rome winner, Mitch Evans by 0.2 seconds.

    A number of drivers were testing the limits before qualifying, with Dan Ticktum looks to steal every inch in the braking zones but firing his NIO 333 car long into the run off, outside Sainte Devote and Antonio Giovinazzi clipping the wall on the exit of the Swimming Pool- as did Jean-Eric Vergne who clouted the barrier, trying to improve on his fourth-fastest time.

    The session was red flagged half way through as Alexander Sims car stopped to halt with what looked like a technical issue. Robin Frijns had set the pace prior to the stoppage.

    The top 10 are: P1: Da Costa, P2: Evans, P3: Frijns, P4: Vergne, P5: Gunther, P6: de Vries, P7: Wehrlein , P8: Lotterer, P9: Mortara, P10: Dennis.

    Qualifying-

    Jaguar’s Mitch Evans, extended his hot streak as he got pole position blowing away Porsche Formula E Team’s Pascal Wehrlein by more than two tenths of a second.

    Wehrelin looked like he had it in the bag especially through Sainte Devote and up the hill, but Evans proved quicker than the German and extended his margin to 0.2 seconds by the tunnel. The Porsche driver then fell away and Evans flew to complete a 1m 29.839s the quickest time of the day.

    The full top 10 being- P1: Evans, P2: Wehrelin, P3: Vergne, P4: Vandoorne, P5: Di Grassi, P6: Lotterer, P7: Frijns, P8: De Vries, P9: Rowland and P10: Bird.

    Round 6-

    The Mercedes EQ of Stoffel Vandoorne mastered the streets of Monaco, with a tactical drive to win the 2022 Monaco E-Prix Round 6 and now lead the Drivers World Championship lead. The Belgian beat polesitter, Mitch Evans to the top step with Jean Eric-Vergne in third.

    Vandoorne emerged on the right side of a mid-race full course yellow and safety car which threw race strategies up in the air. Vandoorne had hit the front after then-leader Pascal Wehrlein retired from the lead with technical issues on lap 16.

    Evans couldn’t quite capitalise on the searing pace that saw him fly to Julius Baer Pole Position but 18 points and second spot after a Rome win-doubles sees the Jaguar driver’s hot-streak continues.

    The top 10 are: P1: Vandoorne, P2: Evans, P3: Vergne, P4: Frijns, P5: Da Costa, P6: Di Grassi, P7: Cassidy, P8: Buemi, P9: Dennis and P10: De Vries.

    We are back in two weeks for Round 7 & 8 for the Berlin E-Prix, on the 14th and 15th May.

  • Round 4- Rome E-Prix

    Round 4- Rome E-Prix

    Round 4 of the Formula E season has took place today, so lets take a look at how it is gone.

    FP1-

    Championship leader, Edoardo Mortara led the way in the first practice session with a time of 1m 40.022s, whilst Jaguar’s Mitch Evans came close behind in second followed by reigning champion, Nyck de Vries in third.

    All 22 cars made it out for the session, while Nick Cassidy spent time in the pits after only competing two laps with a suspected driveshaft issue, the Brit made it out towards the end to complete 6 laps in total.

    With the cool morning temperatures impacting breaking, a lockup from Jake Dennis saw the Brit avoid a narrow miss through the chicane. With seconds to go, Rowland suffered damage after contact was made with Jean-Eric Vergne, sent him into the wall on the chicane through Turns 12 and 13.

    The top 10 were: P1: Mortara, P2: Evans, P3: de Vries, P4: Da Costa, P5: Frijns, P6: Vandoorne, P7: Lotterer, P8: Sims, P9: Bird, P10: Sette Camara.

    FP2-

    The DS Techeetah and former Rome winner, Jean-Eric Vergne topped the timesheets in the final practice ahead of qualifying with a 1m 39.082s. Ahead of Pascal Wehrlein in second and Sam Bird who went third fastest.

    More problems for Mahindra’s Oliver Rowland, as he wrestled with his car sliding through Turns 12 and 13- the same spot he crashed earlier on. That same chicane stopped the running of Andre Lotterer as he clipped the inside of Turn 13 causing him to stop on track before a red flag came out.

    The top 10 were: P1: Vergne, P2: Wehrlein, P3: Bird, P4: Dennis, P5: de Vries, P6: Evans, P7: Da Costa, P8: Mortara, P9: Vandoorne and P10: Frijns.

    Qualifying-

    Stoffel Vandoorne claimed his 7th Formula E pole, as he lined up against Robin Frijns. Heading down in Turn 3, Frijns lost time in the final, handing the lead to the Mercedes-EQ driver. Despite his best effort to catch him, Frijns failed to make up for lost time.

    The pole marks Mercedes-EQ third Pole in four rounds, as the Mercedes power train continues to prove its dominance in the electric series. Could Stoffel turn the pole into a win? He already has a win here in the Eternal City last year, so it could very much be possible.

    The top 10 are: P1: Vandoorne, P2: Frijns, P3: de Vries, P4: Da Costa, P5: Vergne, P6: Dennis, P7: Wehrlein, P8: Lotterer, P9: Evans and P10: Rowland.

    Round 4-

    Jaguar TCS Racing, Mitch Evans takes victory on the streets of Rome for the second time in his career. Evans dominated, pulling away from the field to lead Envision’s Robin Frijns in 2nd and Mercedes EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne in third.

    Despite starting on pole, Vandoorne let his lead slip on the streets, giving way to a determined Mitch who stormed to victory after starting ninth. For the reigning champ, it wasn’t all good though, the Mercedes driver failed to finish the race, retiring after slowing on track and slipping down the order.

    Home here, Antonio Giovinazzi, finished 18th after a steady race at the back of the grid- still adjusting to the challenging nature of driving on street circuits, Giovinazzi will be looking to make more of an impact in tomorrows race.

    Nudged from behind early on in the race, Edoardo Mortara behind, Oliver Rowland hit the barrier on Turn 7, with the cars behind being backed up. Shortly after this, Max Guenther crashed into the barrier on Turn 11- the safety car was brought out whilst his car was recovered.

    Times for tomorrow-

    Free Practice 3: 07:30am – 08:00am (BST), Qualifying: 09:40am – 10:55am (BST), Round 5: 14:00pm – 15:00pm (BST).