Four years after setting the lowest record for a racing driver in single-seater motorsport, this weekend Belgian drivers 7} Stoffel Vandoorne had the greatest achievement of his career. That said, winningFormula E ranks higher thanFormula 1 in McLarenhe raced for two years, and the FE doubleheader he If it precedes the finale. Seoul tomorrow.
Looking back on a period of turmoil and turbulence at McLaren, Vandoorne said the team was suddenly unable to compete for points on a regular basis...in fact, he made his debut as a test driver in 2016 in Bahrain. The expected upward trajectory did not materialize as it scored points at times. His best result was his second consecutive 7th place finish in Singapore and Malaysia in 2017.
” his 2015 GP2 winner Vandoorne told The Independent. ``That's another motivation. It was a case of the wrong time, the wrong place, but after a difficult time in Formula 1, I am grateful to have been given the chance to come here [Formula E] and find my passion and love for the sport again. Thank you.”
Formula E decided to ask Vandoorne to race on a global scale because so many drivers either failed to reach the top of the Formula pyramid or fell off the top of the mountain. provided the opportunity to continue. A series that can only grow exponentially in a world where interest in sustainability goes hand in hand with profit. This year's world road trip, his 8th season, starts in Saudi Arabia and wraps up this weekend in South Korea, with stops in Mexico City, New York and London.
The 'E-Prix' held two weeks ago at the Excel Center on the Thames quayside was a perfect demonstration of Formula E's potential. Attracting younger spectators in the inner city provides an unparalleled platform for F1's traditional hegemony. In another doubleheader, Vandoorne finished his second and then his fourth, extending his lead at the top of the leaderboard from runners-up New Zealand's Mitch his Evans to his 36 points.
Mercedes- EQ teammate and F1 aspirant Nick de Vries won last year, a historic double beckoning his arrow to silver.
"I just want to take the same approach: make no mistakes and do good qualifying laps," Vandoorne said. A career high in points in the last 11 races.
Mercedes EQ driver Vandoorne has a 36-point lead at the top of the Formula E standings with two races to go
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"I want to win this championship. It feels great to win with Mercedes at this level of motorsport. Everyone is a professional driver here. , the competition is very stiff.”
Beyond the potential thrills of silver products in Southeast Asia, Vandoorne said that even if McLaren acquired the Mercedes team in FE, Gen3 cars could be the start of a new era. I believe it marks the beginning.
"I was happy to have a new challenge [after F1]," he says. "I knew I had a good relationship with Mercedes. The support and even the feeling was quite different from the previous [at McLaren] approach. I felt more at home and myself again. Just focus on what you do best: driving.
Vandoorne says his future is electric after a difficult period in McLaren's F1. Believe
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"I see my future in Formula E and have been able to establish something here. The championship is slowly growing, this is my future.”
An aggressive start, but given the chaotic start of the summer break, F1's notoriously silly season. into the mix, frankly, it means there are always questions. Can the Formula E Championship grab the attention of the F1 paddock? Unlikely, but for Vandoorne, the door is always ajar. of course.
"It's an exciting time. A lot is changing. If the team really wants me, I'm sure someone will reach out.
:: Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship concludes with a doubleheader on August 13 and 14 in Seoul, South Korea
