Formula E: Aston Martin reserve driver Stoffel Vanfoorne joins Maserati Formula E team

Having announced his departure from the DS Penske Formula E team several days ago, Aston Martin test and reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne has now confirmed that he will join the Maserati Formula E team.

Ahead of the eleventh season of the Formula E World Championship, Maserati have announced an all-new driver pairing with Maximilian Günther and Jehan Daruvala leaving the team. Their seats will be filled by Stoffel Vandoorne and Jake Hughes who are set to join the Monaco-based outfit for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.

Season 8 World Champion Vandoorne will challenge his seventh year in the fully electric series while Hughes will enter his third season after having made his debut with McLaren in Season 9.

Since joining the Formula E grid in 2018 following a two-season spell with McLaren in Formula One, Vandoorne has been one of the series’ top competitors, and claimed a dominant World Championship title in the 2021/22 season with Mercedes-EQ.

Holding three victories, 16 podiums and eight pole positions, the Belgian will partner Hughes, who has come out on top in Qualifying on four occasions and secured his first podium in Formula E earlier in Season 10 after finishing second in the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix.

Together, Vandoorne and Hughes will make their first appearance with Maserati MSG Racing in Pre-Season testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, in a critical week of preparation from 4-7 November 2024.

The duo will then head to São Paulo, Brazil, for the Season 11 opener on 7 December 2024 to kick-start what will be a record-breaking campaign featuring 17 races.

Commenting on his new adventure, Vandoorne noted: “I’m very happy to be joining Maserati MSG Racing next season and I’m proud to be associated with such an iconic name within motorsport as Maserati.

"I’m excited to start working with the team - although I haven’t worked directly with them before, I know the team well, both from my time at DS Penske but also from my time with Mercedes when we shared a powertrain with Venturi.

"They are a great bunch of people, very skilled, very determined and I’m really looking forward to working with together moving forwards. Hopefully we’ll have a lot of success and fight for victories and championships together."

Having left McLaren for the Monaco-based Maserati team,Hughes commented: "I’m over the moon to be joining Maserati MSG Racing. The success that the team has had, as one of the founding teams in Formula E, speaks for itself.

"On a personal level, I have worked with the team previously so I know them well and I’m genuinely looking forward to going back. I know that the season has only just finished but I honestly can’t wait to get over to the HQ in Monaco and start working with the engineers, get on the simulator and really get cracking with our prep for Season 11.

"This marks the start of an exciting new chapter in my career, and I know that the best is yet to come.”

Maserati's team boss José M Aznar commented: “With the introduction of the Gen3 Evo, Season 11 represents a new era for Formula E, and we are delighted to welcome Stoffel and Jake to the team for the upcoming season.

"Since joining Formula E in 2018, as the Season 8 World Champion, Stoffel is undeniably one of the best drivers on the grid right now. His speed and experience will play a critical role in our future development and growth, and by joining forces with Jake, we’re confident we’ll have one of the strongest lineups on the grid in 2025.

"Jake was our Reserve Driver in Season 7, and in that time, he really impressed us with his commitment to learn and hunger to help drive the team forward, and since making his debut with McLaren in Season 9, he hasn’t stopped impressing us.

"Welcoming him to the team feels like something of a homecoming, and it’ll be great to have him back in the garage. For Gen3 Evo, we have the foundations in place to have a strong season and it is our intention to fight at the front of the grid – something that we’re confident we can do.”