Formula E champion Vandoorne joins Aston Martin F1 as test driver

Reigning Formula E World Champion Stoffel Vandoorne has joined the Aston Martin Formula One as a test driver for the 2023 season.

Vandoorne, who claimed the Formula E Drivers’ World Championship in August, is set to join Brazil’s Felipe Drugovich as a test and reserve drive, with the pair dovetailing their duties across next year’s 24-race calendar.

The Belgian’s new role with AMF1 will see him undertake an intensive simulation and development programme at the team’s Silverstone factory.

Vandoorne becomes the second Mercedes FE driver to step into the world of Formula One, following in the footsteps of his teammate and former Formula E World Champion, Nyck De Vries, who has signed for AlphaTauri.

Commenting on his new position, Vandoorne said: “It is incredibly exciting to be stepping into a reserve-driver role in Formula One – and I’m delighted to be doing it with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team.

“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, who I already know from my Formula One racing career, and Lance, 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.”

With Mercedes ending its involvement with Formula E at the end of last season, Vandoorne was recently announced as the new driver for DS Penske, where he will join forces with Jean-Éric Vergne for Season 9. He will fit his AMF1 commitments around the new Formula E season.

Mike Krack, Team Principal for AMF1, said: “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.”