Reigning Formula E champion Stoffel Vandoorne has joined the Aston Martin Formula 1 team as a test and reserve driver for 2023.
Vandoorne previously raced in F1 over a three-year period between 2016 and 2018, racking up 41 grand prix starts for McLaren with a best finish of seventh at the 2017 Malaysian and Singapore Grand Prix’s.
After losing his F1 seat at the end of 2018, Vandoorne made the switch to Formula E, winning this season’s drivers’ title at the final round in South Korea.
The Belgian will be racing for DS Penske next year following Mercedes’ departure from Formula E, partnering former F1 driver Jean Eric Vergne.
“It is incredibly exciting to be stepping into a reserve-driver role in Formula One – and I’m delighted to be doing it with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team,” said Vandoorne.
“I’ve watched with great interest how the team has developed and expanded operationally, and I know how incredibly determined it is to make progress in every area.
“Joining Fernando, who I already know from my Formula One racing career, and Lance, to help them develop and improve next year’s car will be a terrific job, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge – and reward – of working together with the whole organisation at Silverstone.”
Vandoorne joins 2022 Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich as Aston Martin’s new test and reserve drivers from next year, that will see the pair undertake an “intensive simulation and development programme”.
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack believes Vandoorne will “fit perfectly” into the role as the Silverstone-based outfit continues to expand its team.
“Stoffel has all the capabilities we need for this new and expanded role within the team: he is fast, analytical, hard-working and a fantastic team player, and will fit perfectly into our growing organisation, working alongside our other test driver, Felipe Drugovich,” said Krack.
“The whole team is hugely motivated for next year, and the appointment of Stoffel, alongside Fernando, Lance and Felipe, gives extra depth to our fantastic driver line-up.
“This will be a significant role for Stoffel, and we will be reliant on him to work hard with both our track and simulation and engineering teams to improve our performance for 2023 and beyond.”
Vandoorne’s arrival at Aston Martin has prompted questions over Nico Hulkenberg’s position at the team, with the German not mentioned in the press release.
Hulkenberg is in contention for a seat at Haas next year if it decides not to re-sign current driver Mick Schumacher, but the team is in no rush to confirm its 2023 driver line-up.
Vandoorne was originally a Mercedes test and reserve driver but with him and 2023 AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries leaving the German manufacturer, it opens up a vacancy that is widely rumoured to be filled by Daniel Ricciardo with the eight-time grand prix winner out of a drive for next year.
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