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One of the world’s top motorsport teams left Formula E at the top of the game, with a double title at the World Championship, which concluded in Korea recently.
The Mercedes-EQ Formula E team and their star driver Stoffel Vandvoorne defended their title as the top team and driver world champions after a breath-taking race weekend in Seoul.
“Wow, I’m speechless,” added Vandvoorne as he took home the second-place finish during the final race of the weekend.
“It’s an incredible feeling when you think about what we’ve achieved together this year. The car was superb again today, and everyone in the team deserves this success.
“We have accomplished something very special together. As a team, we have achieved a level of consistency that has never been seen before in Formula E. I am incredibly proud of my team and our performance this season.
“It’s the perfect way to end the season, to be on the podium in the last race of the season, the 100th E-Prix in the history of the series, and to win both World Championship titles.”
Vandvoorne set the second-fastest time in qualifying group A to reach the Duels stage. He then advanced to the semi-finals, where he narrowly lost out to Edoardo Mortara.
He went on to start the final race of the season in Seoul from fourth place, holding his position at the start and then moved up into the podium group in the second half of the race. He crossed the finish line in second place, behind Mortara.
With 213 points, Vandvoorne rounded off his fourth season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with a 33-point lead over Mitch Evans’ 180 points, becoming World Champion for the first time in his career.
Vandvoorne’s team mate Nick de Vries was forced to retire after a collision and ended the season in ninth place with 106 points.
“I’m obviously disappointed that I didn’t finish, but fortunately that didn’t change anything. I am very happy for the whole team. Congratulations to Stoffel, who’s had a fantastic season. He’s been very consistent and deserves the title. The team has done a great job over the years, and we couldn’t have asked for a better end to our journey together than this final result.
“I’m not happy with the way my season went, of course, but it wasn’t always apparent from the outside what the problem was. It was a kind of snowball effect of small things that meant we weren’t able to score points on a consistent basis.”
For the Mercedes EQ team, the 100th Formula E race in Seoul will also go down as their last, as the team is retiring from the series, after three seasons, seven victories, 23 podium finishes and a pair of consecutive double World Championships.
“I’m incredibly proud of all the team to have scored a consecutive double World Championship in Formula E again this year,” Mercedes-AMG F1 team principal Toto Wolff added.
“An incredible achievement for an incredible team; and on top of that a 1-2 in the Teams’ Championship for Mercedes powered cars.
“Congratulations also to both our drivers, both having won a Drivers’ Championships on merit, in a season that was the picture of championship winning consistency.
“Mercedes-EQ are leaving the series on a high, and with great memories. It has definitely been a fun ride. Formula E - it was great to have met you!”
