Stoffel Vandoorne, the reigning Formula E World Champion is set to join the newly announced partnership at DS Penske alongside two times championship winner Jean-Eric Vergne
Mercedes’ departure from Formula E had left Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne out of a seat for the upcoming Season 9 of the all-electric racing series.
While de Vries was offered the opportunity to make his long-awaited debut to Formula 1, reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne was set to remain in Formula E, where he found a seat alongside two-times world champion Jean-Eric Vergne at the re-branded DS team.
It was a double announcement for the French manufacturer, for long in a partnership with Techeetah – with whom they won the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles twice through the Gen2 era. Now DS Automobiles and Penske Autosport join forces ahead of the debut of a new era, Gen3, with an all-star line-up in Vandoorne and Vergne.
“We are starting this partnership in the best possible way by having two champions in the team,” said Director of DS Performance Thomas Chevaucher. “Thanks to Stoffel and Jean-Eric, we probably have one of the best line-ups and also the fastest pairing on the grid. With the powertrain and software expertise of DS Performance, we are now in an ideal position to continue our hunt for victories and titles.”
“With races taking place in big city environments around the world and a carbon neutral certification, Formula E is one of the most exciting and forward-thinking competitions in global motorsport,” said Beatrice Foucher, CEO of DS Automobiles, remarking how competing in Formula E has been beneficial to their brand – with the experience accumulated through the years helping them to transfer technology from racing to everyday road cars.
DS was one of the first teams to join the electric racing series back in 2015, and one of the most successful on the grid. Vandoorne has enjoyed three great years at Mercedes, winning his first title with them in their last season together – but in DS the Belgian will find a suitable seat for his ambitions.
“DS has achieved excellent results in the past, winning the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles twice: it’s a good record and one that I hope I can add to before long,” he said in his announcement. “It’s also a great pleasure to be associated with the only double champion in Formula E. I believe that JEV and I will form one of the strongest line-ups for Season 9.”
