McLaren’s Vandoorne moves to Formula E

Bowyer finishes second, Stenhouse third

LONDON, Oct 15, (RTRS): McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne will switch to the all-electric Formula E series at the end of the Formula One season, the Mercedesaffiliated HWA RACELAB team said on Monday.

HWA said the 26-year-old Belgian will join Britain’s Gary Paffett, 37, who won his second German Touring Cars (DTM) championship with Mercedes at the weekend.

McLaren will have an all-new Formula One lineup next year, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz replacing double world champion compatriot Fernando Alonso and British rookie Lando Norris moving up from the reserve role.

HWA are making their Formula One debut in the 2018/19 season that is due to start in Saudi Arabia in December. Mercedes are due to enter the series in 2019-20.

“Stoffel has demonstrated his talent and his speed not only in Formula One, but also in the 2015 GP2 which he won by a wide margin,” said HWA team principal Ulrich Fritz.

“In Stoffel and Gary, we have two Formula E rookies on our team, which in any case is making its own debut in the electric series. That’s why we all have a lot to learn together.”

Vandoorne, who is due to race at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, this weekend will be testing for the Formula E team in Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Dutch beer giant Heineken, already a Formula One sponsor, is also becoming an official partner of the city-based all-electric Formula E series from 2019 in a five-year deal.