Stoffel Vandoorne addresses idea of F1 return after sealing FE crown

Stoffel Vandoorne says it’s unlikely we’ll see him back in Formula 1 after sealing his first Formula E world championship.

The Belgian completed the job in the Formula E title fight last Sunday, as he produced a typically solid drive to finish second in race two of the South Korea E-Prix weekend to seal the crown ahead of Mitch Evans, who had taken it to the final day with a win in race one on Saturday.

It was a fine performance from Vandoorne last Sunday, and one that typified his year which saw him score regular podiums and good points finishes to supplement his sole race victory of the year at the Monaco E-Prix.

It’s one of the biggest achievements of his career, then, and a fine example of a driver showing the talent they have after a difficult period in F1, with him on the grid with McLaren at a very tough period for the team.

Would he ever return to F1 on the back of this success, though? He says he doesn’t rule it out but finds it unlikely:

“My future is Formula E. I’ve done the Formula 1 gig for two years in ‘17 and ‘18. I don’t feel like I’ll be in Formula 1 again.

“But never say never. The world is a strange place. Anything is possible but, personally, it’s not something I have in the back of my mind. It’s not something where I’m thinking ‘I have to get back into a Formula 1 seat’.

“I had a great opportunity to race for Mercedes and start this journey from the bottom. Of course, it’s coming to an end now with Mercedes [who are pulling out of Formula E.]

“But I’ve managed to establish myself as one of the winning drivers and now I’m a world champion in Formula E. That’s the way I see my future and where I want to put my focus and my efforts.”