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Stoffel Vandoorne (; born 26 March 1992) is a Belgians, Belgian professional racing driver who is currently racing for Maserati MSG Racing in Formula E and Peugeot Sport, Peugeot TotalEnergies in FIA World Endurance Championship, WEC. He had previously competed in Formula One for McLaren from 2016 to 2018. He was champion of the 2015 GP2 Series and the 2021–22 Formula E World Championship. He currently resides in both Monte Carlo (Monaco) and Roeselare (Belgium).
Vandoorne serves as the reserve driver for the Aston Martin F1, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.
In 2010 F4 Eurocup 1.6 season, 2010, Vandoorne moved up to open-wheel car, single-seater racing, joining the French F4 Championship, F4 Eurocup 1.6 series. He went on to win the series on his first attempt, finishing the season with six wins and three further podium finishes. The prize from winning the series helped him to move up to the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 the following year. He also earned a place in the FIA Driver Academy.
In January 2014, it was confirmed that Vandoorne would make his debut in GP2, racing with ART Grand Prix, ART. In the opening race at Bahrain, Vandoorne claimed his first victory of the season in the feature race. He followed this up with four consecutive pole positions, three more wins at the Hungaroring, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza and Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Marina and six additional podiums. Despite being a rookie, he finished runner-up to 2014 champion Jolyon Palmer.
On 31 March 2016, it was announced Vandoorne would be replacing regular driver Fernando Alonso at the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain Grand Prix after the Spaniard was ruled unfit to drive following a major accident during the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, Australian Grand Prix. After qualifying 12th ahead of Jenson Button, Vandoorne finished 10th and became the first reserve driver to score points on debut since Sebastian Vettel at the 2007 United States Grand Prix.
On 3 September 2016, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, it was announced by McLaren that Jenson Button would not be racing in 2017, and that Vandoorne would be replacing him to partner Alonso for the season.
In his debut full season at McLaren, Vandoorne established himself as a considerable rookie next to veteran F1 Champion, Fernando Alonso. With the uncompetitive McLaren, Vandoorne racked up 13 points compared to Alonso's 17. The key issues lay in the reliability and performance of the car which resulted in 1 DNS and 5 DNFs throughout the 20 race season. Nevertheless, he managed to crack into the top 10 in 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungary, 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, Malaysia and 2017 Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore.
On 23 August 2017, it was announced that Vandoorne would be retained for the season.
Vandoorne and Vergne were retained by DS Penske for the 2023–24 Formula E season, 2023–24 season.
Vandoorne would depart the team after two mediocre seasons with the team at the conclusion of the season.
For 2023, Vandoorne was appointed as the reserve driver for the Peugeot Sport in the Le Mans Hypercar, Hypercar category. However, he replaced an injured Nico Müller at Peugeot for the 2023 6 Hours of Fuji, 6 Hours of Fuji, where he finished in seventh place.
* Season still in progress.
Early life
Stoffel Vandoorne was born in Kortrijk, West Flanders. Vandoorne was introduced to motorsport at the age of six during a visit to the kart track of World Karts in Kortrijk in Flanders, Belgium, with his father. Vandoorne started karting after the owner of the track gave him a mini-kart.Early career
Karting
Initially, lack of funding restricted Vandoorne to race 3 to 4 races per year. By age 16 he was Belgian KF2 Champion. In 2009 he finished as runner-up in the CIK-FIA World Cup in the KF2 category. The same year he won the 'steering wheel' competition held by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium. The prize money of 45,000 euros helped him start his car racing career in French F4 Championship, F4 Eurocup 1.6.Formula Renault
2010
In 2010 F4 Eurocup 1.6 season, 2010, Vandoorne moved up to open-wheel car, single-seater racing, joining the French F4 Championship, F4 Eurocup 1.6 series. He went on to win the series on his first attempt, finishing the season with six wins and three further podium finishes. The prize from winning the series helped him to move up to the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 the following year. He also earned a place in the FIA Driver Academy.
2011
In 2011 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season, 2011, he graduated to competing in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 with Kurt Mollekens' KTR team. He finished fifth overall, with one podium at the Hungaroring and another eight-point-scoring finishes throughout the season. He also participated in 2011 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC season, Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, where he finished third in the series' standings with eight podiums.2012
For the 2012 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season, 2012 season Vandoorne remained in the Eurocup, but left KTR to join Josef Kaufmann Racing. He won the championship by ten points after a tight battle between himself and Red Bull Racing, Red Bull-backed Daniil Kvyat. Between them they won 11 of the 14 races and finished over 100 points ahead of their nearest challenger. Vandoorne finished the season with four wins and six podiums to his name. He also contested selected events in the 2012 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC season, Northern European Cup, where he won five of the seven races that he started, and finished on the podium in a sixth race.2013
In 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, 2013, Vandoorne raced in World Series by Renault, Formula Renault 3.5, where he replaced 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, 2012 champion Robin Frijns at Fortec Motorsport. He finished runner-up to Kevin Magnussen with four wins and 10 podiums, including a victory at his home track of Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa-Francorchamps.GP2 Series
2014
In January 2014, it was confirmed that Vandoorne would make his debut in GP2, racing with ART Grand Prix, ART. In the opening race at Bahrain, Vandoorne claimed his first victory of the season in the feature race. He followed this up with four consecutive pole positions, three more wins at the Hungaroring, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza and Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Marina and six additional podiums. Despite being a rookie, he finished runner-up to 2014 champion Jolyon Palmer.
2015
Vandoorne reunited with ART for 2015 GP2 Series, 2015, as well as was considered the main title contender. He was partnered by 2014 All-Japan Formula Three season, 2014 Japanese Formula Three champion Nobuharu Matsushita. After five feature race wins, twelve podiums and four pole positions, Vandoorne took the title in Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, 108 points over his nearest rival Alexander Rossi (racing driver), Alexander Rossi. Vandoorne holds the List of GP2 Series driver records, record for all-time most wins, most feature race wins, most pole positions and most consecutive pole positions, most podiums, most podiums in a season, most points and most points in a single season in GP2 history, with the series being rebranded as the FIA Formula 2 Championship at the end of the following year.Super Formula
On 12 February 2016, it was announced that Vandoorne would race a Honda in Super Formula for Dandelion Racing. He finished fourth overall, the highest ranking among Honda engine users, with two wins and one pole position at Fuji Speedway in wet conditions throughout the season.Formula One career
In February 2013, Vandoorne joined McLaren's McLaren young driver programme, Young Driver Programme, under the tutelage of his then manager Richard Goddard, in collaboration with the team's sporting director Sam Michael and its head of communications Matt Bishop, to whom Vandoorne had been introduced in 2011 by Alex Wurz. In January 2014, he was announced as a third driver for McLaren F1 also taking up driving duties in the GP2 Series for ART Grand Prix.McLaren (2016–2018, 2020–2022)
2016 season
On 31 March 2016, it was announced Vandoorne would be replacing regular driver Fernando Alonso at the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain Grand Prix after the Spaniard was ruled unfit to drive following a major accident during the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, Australian Grand Prix. After qualifying 12th ahead of Jenson Button, Vandoorne finished 10th and became the first reserve driver to score points on debut since Sebastian Vettel at the 2007 United States Grand Prix.
On 3 September 2016, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, it was announced by McLaren that Jenson Button would not be racing in 2017, and that Vandoorne would be replacing him to partner Alonso for the season.
2017 season
In his debut full season at McLaren, Vandoorne established himself as a considerable rookie next to veteran F1 Champion, Fernando Alonso. With the uncompetitive McLaren, Vandoorne racked up 13 points compared to Alonso's 17. The key issues lay in the reliability and performance of the car which resulted in 1 DNS and 5 DNFs throughout the 20 race season. Nevertheless, he managed to crack into the top 10 in 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungary, 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, Malaysia and 2017 Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore.
On 23 August 2017, it was announced that Vandoorne would be retained for the season.
2018 season
In the new McLaren Renault partnership, Vandoorne enjoyed a good start to the season with 3 points finishes in the first 4 races. However, as the season progressed, he struggled to maintain this momentum which left him with 8 points by the 2018 Japanese Grand Prix, Japanese Grand Prix. Moreover, the lack of a competitive package in the McLaren resulted in a long drought in points finishes between the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the 2018 Mexican Grand Prix. Vandoorne ended the season in 16th ahead of 4 other drivers in the drivers' championship. However, the last few Grands Prix saw Vandoorne in some impressive battles, particularly in the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Romain Grosjean, which led him to finish 8th on the Formula 1 Power Rankings. It was announced on 3 September 2018 that Vandoorne would leave McLaren at the end of the 2018 season.Reserve driver (2020–2022)
Vandoorne was the simulator driver for the McLaren team in 2020 and was named as one of the team's reserve drivers in 2021, but in 2022 was not chosen as the driver for the final pre-season test Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain after Daniel Ricciardo tested positive for COVID-19.Mercedes (2019–2022)
Vandoorne was the simulator driver for the Mercedes-Benz in Formula One, Mercedes team in 2019 and was named as one of the team's reserve drivers in 2020, but in the end was not chosen as the driver for the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton, Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19. Vandoorne drove for Mercedes in the season-ending 2020 Abu Dhabi Young Drivers Test alongside Formula E teammate Nyck de Vries. Vandoorne was also made available as reserve driver for Racing Point F1 Team, Racing Point in 2020 and McLaren from 2020 to 2022, as part of an agreement between Mercedes and both teams.Aston Martin (2023–)
Vandoorne was announced to be joining Aston Martin in Formula One, Aston Martin for the 2023 Formula One World Championship as a reserve and simulator driver, sharing duties with 2022 Formula 2 Championship, 2022 Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich. Additionally, he was also made a reserve driver for McLaren F1 Team, McLaren. In August, Vandoorne drove the Aston Martin AMR23 during a tyre test at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa-Francorchamps. Vandoorne remained the reserve driver for Aston Martin for the 2024 Formula One season, 2024 season and drove an Aston Martin AMR24 during a tyre test at Spa-Francorchamps.Formula E
HWA Racelab (2018–2019)
2018–19 season
It was confirmed on 15 October 2018 that Vandoorne would drive for HWA Racelab for the 2018–19 Formula E season. He would be joining Britain's Gary Paffett to complete the driver lineup for HWA Team, HWA Racelab. Vandoorne would go on and start his Formula E debut just 3 weeks after leaving Formula 1 and would come 17th in his first race. He has also achieved his first qualifying pole position in Formula E at a wet 2019 Hong Kong ePrix. However, he retired from the race after having a driveshaft issue. He came third in the 2019 Rome ePrix and booked his first podium in Formula E. Vandoorne finished his debut season in 16th position in the driver's standings with 35 points.Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team (2019–2022)
2019–20 season
In the 2019–20 Formula E Championship, 2019–20 season, Vandoorne drove for Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team, Mercedes-Benz EQ with 2019 Formula 2 Championship, 2019 Formula 2 Champion, Nyck de Vries. Vandoorne took 2 consecutive podiums in the two first races. The E-Prix of Mexico and Marrakesh saw a series of poor finishes, and at the time of the season's suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 Pandemic, he sat 29 points below the championship leader, António Félix da Costa. Following the resumption of the season for six races in Berlin, he finished in the points in four of the six races, including his first win in the season finale. He ultimately finished 2nd in the standings, though behind Félix da Costa by 71 points.2020–21 season
Vandoorne continued to drive for the renamed Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team for the 2020–21 season, again partnering Nyck de Vries. Vandoorne achieved one win at the second race of 2021 Rome ePrix, and two third place finishes at 2021 Valencia ePrix and 2021 Berlin ePrix. de Vries secured his first Drivers' Championship, as Vandoorne finished ninth in the standings. Vandoorne and de Vries' total points haul allowed Mercedes to achieve their first Teams' Championship that season. Vandoorne and de Vries' partnership will continue for the 2021–22 Formula E World Championship, 2021-22 season.
2021–22 season
Vandoorne and de Vries continued to race with the Mercedes-EQ team for the 2021–22 Formula E World Championship, 2021–22 season, Mercedes' final in Formula E. The team started out with promising pace at the opening round in 2022 Diriyah ePrix, Diriyah, showcased by Vandoorne taking the first pole position of the season. During the race however, the Belgian fell behind his teammate after missing the Attack Mode activation point and eventually finished second. The following day, Vandoorne fought back to seventh and set the fastest lap of the race, having started from twelfth. After being taken out of a points-paying position by Lucas di Grassi near the end of the 2022 Mexico City ePrix, Mexico City ePrix, the Belgian returned to the rostrum in 2022 Rome ePrix, Rome, converting a pole position into third place on Saturday. 2022 Monaco ePrix, Monaco brought the highlight of the year, as Vandoorne dominated the second half of the race to take his first victory of the season. More success - in the form of a pair of third places in 2022 Berlin ePrix, Berlin - followed, before he took more points for his championship challenge at 2022 Jakarta ePrix, Jakarta and 2022 Marrakesh ePrix, Marrakesh. With two of his title rivals, namely Jean-Éric Vergne and Edoardo Mortara, experiencing a difficult weekend at the 2022 New York City ePrix, New York City ePrix, Vandoorne was able to capitalise by way of a fourth and a second place, which put him at the top of the standings. At the penultimate event in 2022 London ePrix, London, Vandoorne repeated his results from the previous round, most impressively performing a comeback drive from 13th to fourth on Sunday. These results, coupled with a technical problem for closest title rival Mitch Evans, put Vandoorne 36 points ahead of the Kiwi before the season finale in 2022 Seoul ePrix, Seoul. In the South Korean capital, Evans took victory on Saturday, though he would not gain much ground as Vandoorne finished fifth. On Sunday, Vandoorne finished second, clinching the title and bringing a second drivers' and teams' world championship to the departing Mercedes outfit.DS Penske (2023–2024)
2022–23 season
In October 2022, it was announced that Vandoorne would be joining the newly formed Dragon Racing, DS Penske outfit alongside fellow champion Jean-Éric Vergne for the 2022–23 Formula E World Championship, 2023 season. The introduction of the Formula E Gen3 chassis to competition posed a challenge to Penske, leading to a disappointing season for Vandoorne. With no podiums, a first in the Belgian's Formula E career, and a lone pole in 2023 São Paulo ePrix, São Paulo, Vandoorne ended up eleventh in the standings, 51 points behind teammate Vergne.2023–24 season
Vandoorne and Vergne were retained by DS Penske for the 2023–24 Formula E season, 2023–24 season.
Vandoorne would depart the team after two mediocre seasons with the team at the conclusion of the season.
Maserati MSG Racing (2024–)
2024–25 season
Vandoorne would switch to Maserati MSG Racing for the 2024–25 Formula E World Championship, 2024–25 season, lining up alongside Jake Hughes.FIA World Endurance Championship
2019
In April 2019, it was announced that Stoffel Vandoorne would compete for two races in the FIA World Endurance Championship, WEC for 2018-2019 for SMP Racing. He will drive the Russian BR1 No.11 prototype along with Vitaly Petrov and Mikhail Aleshin in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Vandoorne, alongside Petrov and Aleshin, finished 3rd place in the LMP1 Class. Vandoorne drove the first stint during weather conditions of snow, hail and rain. At the 24 hour of Le Mans he finished 3rd place.2022
Vandoorne was set to test the 2023 Peugeot Sport, Peugeot Le Mans Hypercar, Hypercar at the Bahrain International Circuit during November 2022, but was not able to take part in it after being diagnosed with appendicitis.2023
For 2023, Vandoorne was appointed as the reserve driver for the Peugeot Sport in the Le Mans Hypercar, Hypercar category. However, he replaced an injured Nico Müller at Peugeot for the 2023 6 Hours of Fuji, 6 Hours of Fuji, where he finished in seventh place.
2024
Vandoorne would race with Peugeot Sport full-time in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship alongside Nico Müller and Loïc Duval.IndyCar Series
On 17 November 2021, it was announced that Vandoorne will take part in an IndyCar Series test with Arrow McLaren SP at Sebring International Raceway on 6 December 2021.Racing record
Karting career summary
Racing career summary
† As Vandoorne was a guest driver he was ineligible to score points.* Season still in progress.
Complete F4 Eurocup 1.6 results
(Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results
(Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results
(:Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)Complete GP2 Series results
(:Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)Complete Super Formula results
(:Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)Complete Formula One results
(:Template:F1 driver results legend 2, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) † Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.Complete Formula E results
(:Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
(:Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) * Season still in progress.Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(:Template:Motorsport driver results legend, key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vandoorne, Stoffel 1992 births Living people Belgian racing drivers Belgian Formula One drivers McLaren Formula One drivers Super Formula drivers GP2 Series drivers GP2 Series Champions World Series Formula V8 3.5 drivers French F4 Championship drivers Formula Renault 2.0 NEC drivers Formula Renault Eurocup drivers FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy drivers Sportspeople from Kortrijk Formula E drivers 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers FIA World Endurance Championship drivers Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Monaco KTR drivers Josef Kaufmann Racing drivers Fortec Motorsport drivers ART Grand Prix drivers Dandelion Racing drivers Mercedes-AMG Motorsport drivers Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team drivers Jota Sport drivers Asian Le Mans Series drivers WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers Auto Sport Academy drivers SMP Racing drivers HWA Team drivers Meyer Shank Racing drivers Karting World Championship drivers Formula E Champions Peugeot Sport drivers