Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries will continue at Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E for the 2020-21 season.
Both drivers had been expected to keep their drives after a solid opening year at Mercedes, which saw them finish third in the team’s standings.
For Vandoorne, it will mark his third season in all-electric racing, and after a strong finish saw him finish as runner-up in the drivers’ standings he’s keen to see if the team can continue to close the gap to champions DS Techeetah.
“I’m really looking forward to racing again,” Vandoorne said. “It seems like ages since the last time out, racing in Berlin.
“We were able to successfully conclude last season with a win and I hope that we can fight for podiums and victories again next year and can close the gap on the guys at the top a little bit more. Let’s wait and see how it goes.”
Mercedes also revealed that they will be introducing an updated version of the EQ Silver Arrow, which they say has an improved drive train.
Vandoorne has already tested the new car, and says he can’t wait to see how it matched up against the rest of the field.
“We’ve done some testing with the new car since then and it was real nice to get back behind the wheel but nothing can come close to the feeling of going up against the best in the field.
“I can’t wait to see how we do with our new car next year.”
Although De Vries struggled to match his team-mate at points last year, he showed flashes of brilliant pace, and by finishing second in the final race in Berlin he helped the team to its first one-two finish in the series.
Now that he’s entering his second season with the team, he’s hoping the foundations he built last year can lead to better results.
He commented, “I am honestly delighted to be able to contest a second season in Formula E with the team. We had a strong debut season together, although it was a bit of a strange year, in which Covid-19 changed everything after a few races.
“Fortunately, we were still able to finish the season on a positive note and I’m now looking forward to what will hopefully be a more normal season in 2021.
“I feel very comfortable in the team and hope we can use the foundations we have built together to achieve more success next year.”
Official testing ahead of the new season begins in Valencia at the end of next month, with the season due to get underway in Santiago in January of next year.
