By finishing second in the final race of the 2022 Formula E season, Mercedes driver Stoffel Vandoorne secured the world championship title – Fourth win of the season for Edoardo Mortara
Stoffel Vandoorne is the 2022 Formula E World Champion! A second place was enough for the Mercedes driver to succeed his team-mate Nyck de Vries at the 16th and final race of the season in Seoul on Sunday. Mercedes also defended the team championship, which means that the German manufacturer’s works team is saying goodbye to Formula E after three years with four titles.
After Vandoorne’s last remaining title rival Mitch Evans (Jaguar) had only finished 13th in qualifying, an eighth place would have been enough for the Belgian to win the title. Evans improved in the race and drove up to seventh place, but after a problem-free race Vandoorne was allowed to cheer about the world championship title at the finish.
“This is a great feeling. What we have achieved this year, this consistency, has not been seen in Formula E before. I am proud of what we have achieved together with the team. “
The final victory of the 2022 season was secured by Edoardo Mortara (Venturi). The Swiss had started from second on the grid and had braked his way past pole-sitter Antonio Felix da Costa (DS-Techeetah) on lap 2 with a determined manoeuvre.
Penalty costs Dennis second place
On the track, Jake Dennis (Andretti) finished second. However, the Briton had received a 5-second penalty after a collision with Felix da Costa, which resulted in the Portuguese slipping into the track barriers
Dennis dropped to third position as a result, Vandoorne moved up to second. Robin Frijns (Envision), Oliver Askew (Andretti), Jean-Eric Vergne (DS-Techeetah), Evans, Nick Cassidy (Envision), Sebastien Buemi (Nissan-e.dams) and Felix da Costa completed the top 10.
For the German drivers, the season finale ended with a zero. Andre Lotterer retired in his last Formula E race for Porsche after a collision on the starting lap. Team-mate Pascal Wehrlein had to retire his car after a collision with de Vreis on lap 6.
Nil for the German drivers
The course of the accident could not be seen on the TV picture, but for Wehrlein de Vries was clearly the culprit. “I hope he doesn’t get into F1 with his shitty driving. Damn idiot!” scolded Wehrlein on the radio before he got out of the car.
Maximilian Günther (Nissan-e.dams) was also involved in a collision on the first lap. At first he was able to continue and was in the top 10, but then had to pit for a repair stop. On lap 12, his car then rolled out before turn 20, triggering a safety car period.
The end of the 2022 season also marks the end of the Gen2 cars. Formula E will start the third generation with the most powerful cars to date on 14 January 2023 in Mexico City.
