Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries will continue to drive for Mercedes EQ in Formula E’s seventh season and first as an FIA World Championship.
The German marque joined the fully-electric series in Season 6 alongside fellow nationals Porsche and announced the Belgian-Dutch pairing in the run-up to the season-opening Diriyah E-Prix.
Notching three podium finishes and a landmark maiden win in Berlin, Mercedes EQ secured third in the Teams’ Championship, and after its successful debut season, has opted for continuity in its line-up.
By remaining in the Mercedes fold, Vandoorne will embark on his third season in Formula E this January, eyeing a closer competition after finishing as the runner-up in the Drivers’ Standings.
“I’m really looking forward to racing again,” said the ex-McLaren F1 driver. “It seems like ages since the last time out, racing in Berlin.
“We’ve done some testing with the new car since then and it was real nice to get back behind the wheel but nothing can come close to the feeling of going up against the best in the field. I can’t wait to see how we do with our new car next year.
“We were able to successfully conclude last season with a win and I hope that we can fight for podiums and victories again next year and can close the gap on the guys at the top a little bit more. Let’s wait and see how it goes.”
De Vries, after experiencing a roller-coaster debut campaign and the highs and lows of Formula E, finished as the best rookie of the series last season and with the hope of a more stable calendar, is hoping for greater success ahead.
“I am honestly delighted to be able to contest a second season in Formula E with the team,” said the 2019 Formula 2 Champion.
“We had a strong debut season together, although it was a bit of a strange year, in which Covid-19 changed everything after a few races.
“Fortunately, we were still able to finish the season on a positive note and I’m now looking forward to what will hopefully be a more normal season in 2021.
“I hope too that I can get to know all the new circuits that I haven’t been able to compete on so far. I feel very comfortable in the team and hope we can use the foundations we have built together to achieve more success next year.”
Team Principal, Ian James, added: “We were very pleased with Stoffel and Nyck last season. They both turned in strong performances, gained valuable experience with the team and showed that they have the right skill sets for Formula E.
“They are not only incredibly fast but also have the intelligence and mental capacity to deal with energy management and the unique nature of the races in Formula E. They can now bring this experience to bear in Season 7.”
For the impending campaign, Mercedes will run a revised drive train in its Silver Arrow 02 challenger, which features a reverted classic silver livery with more prominent branding from the marque.
Season 7 will commence on January 16 with a double-header round in Santiago, Chile, following pre-season testing in Valencia on November 27-December 1.
Discussion about this post