Vandoorne's Chance to Reignite His Formula E Career

When Stoffel Vandoorne swept to the 2022 world championship title with Mercedes, his Formula E move looked like it was going to produce all the top-level success his glittering junior years had promised, and make up for what had been anticipated as being a glorious Formula 1 career collapsing so abruptly. However, the past two seasons have been a struggle, and Vandoorne's reputation as one of Formula E's top drivers has deflated somewhat. But with a new team, a revised car, and a fresh tyre specification, Vandoorne has a chance to reignite his Formula E career and rediscover his winning mentality.

Vandoorne's Opportunity to Bounce Back

A New Team, A Fresh Start

Vandoorne's split from DS Penske has led him to Maserati MSG, a team that is a curious entity in Formula E. While it doesn't manufacture its own powertrain, Maserati MSG makes up for this with an engineering spirit that casts it firmly as the underdog – but a winning one, having taken a victory in both Gen3 seasons so far with outgoing driver Maximilian Guenther. This could be the perfect environment for a slightly wounded Vandoorne to thrive, as he joins a team that is in the final stages of rebuilding and a recent recruitment drive.Vandoorne is hopeful that this change of scenery will be the reset he needs, as he acknowledges that there are areas he needs to work on. His pure speed has never been in question, but he has struggled in the pack-racing that is so prevalent in Formula E. This perplexed many senior figures at DS Penske, and it is said that team owner Jay Penske lost patience with Vandoorne after he failed to properly unpick the pack-racing lock, particularly in Berlin and Shanghai this year.Vandoorne is aware of this shortcoming and believes that working with a different group of people and having a strong team behind him will enable him to extract the most out of his abilities. The fact that he will be working with Thibault Arnal, the highly-rated engineer who previously worked with Jean-Eric Vergne, could also be a significant advantage. Arnal is known for his ability to control some of Vergne's famed in-car, in-race agitation spikes, and he won't be shy in pushing Vandoorne to channel more positive aggression in the pack racing.

The Impact of Gen3 Evo Changes

The arrival of the revised Gen3 Evo car and a fresh tyre specification could also play a significant role in Vandoorne's potential resurgence. The active element of the front axle on the Gen3 cars being switched on for some parts of Formula E races, primarily the launch and attack mode periods, will change the game in the 2024-25 season. Additionally, the new Hankook tyre specification, although still said to be overly hard, will have quirks and nuances that could help some of the more sensitive drivers on the grid.Vandoorne, known for his smooth inputs, is likely to benefit from these changes. The new tyre specification, in particular, could be a key area of focus for Vandoorne and the Maserati MSG team, as getting on top of the tyre temperature window early in the season could give them a significant advantage over their competitors.Furthermore, the changes in feel and performance, particularly from the standpoint of traction, mean attack mode could actually be used as a proactive (attacking) tactic again, having become more like a 'pitstop' in the first part of the Gen3 era that teams are keen to get out of the way. Vandoorne is excited about this prospect, as he believes it will lead to more overtaking opportunities and a more dynamic racing experience.

Rediscovering the Winning Mentality

After a brace of lean and fractious seasons, Vandoorne is eager to reignite his Formula E career and rediscover his winning mentality. The changes in the Gen3 Evo car and the fresh tyre specification, combined with his move to the Maserati MSG team, present a unique opportunity for the former Formula 1 driver to bounce back and reclaim his status as one of the top drivers in the series.Vandoorne's experience and his willingness to address the areas he needs to improve on, coupled with the support of a strong team and the potential advantages offered by the new car and tyre, make him a compelling candidate to challenge for the championship once again. If he can get a head start on understanding the new tyre and effectively utilize the revised attack mode, Vandoorne could be poised to put his recent struggles behind him and reassert his dominance in the all-electric racing series.