Belgium's Stoffel Vandoorne was crowned as the 2022 Formula E champion for the departing Mercedes EQ team on Sunday as the electric motor racing championship concluded its eighth season with the 100th race in the history.
The second Formula E Grand Prix in Seoul also ended an era for the FIA-sanctioned series as the ninth season in 2023 which will be bringing a new generation of quicker, lighter and more energy-efficient cars.
The former McLaren F1 racer, Vandoorne started the race in fourth place and finished second in Sunday's race in and around the Olympic stadium in Seoul to take his first championship 33 points clear of Mitch Evans in a Jaguar. Mercedes EQ retained their team title ahead of Venturi and DS Techeetah, but have sold their organisation to McLaren as they depart from Formula E on a high after winning both championships for the second year in a row.
I think every single one of us deserves it: Stoffel Vandoorne
Resting to his title, Vandoorne said, "World Champions; wow. It's just the best feeling ever. Just look at the season we've had - the consistency and the car has been amazing and the team has done an incredible job - I think every single one of us deserves it. What we've accomplished is something special."
This is a very special moment: Ian James
With Mercedes-EQ ending their term in Formula E at the end of the Gen2 era and with McLaren set to enter the next generation - Gen3 in their place, Team Principal Ian James was extremely elated with his team’s performance this season and expressed excitement at securing back-to-back Teams’ and Drivers' titles.
"This is huge. I'm just about holding it together at the moment. I'm so pleased for Stoffel - there isn't anybody that deserves it more than him. He has been so consistent this year - everything he's put into the building and team development - he's been such an instrumental part of our success and to see him achieve this is a dream come true for him - it's phenomenal. And then to do it in Mercedes-EQ's final year as well. This is a very special moment", he said.