Stoffel Vandoorne is one step away from becoming Formula E champion! How does championship maths play for him?

Mercedes EQ is not far away from its driver becoming Formula E World Champion for the second time in a row. However, the Belgian has literally paved his way to the championship trophy compared to the Dutchman, who fought with perhaps half of the drivers on the grid until the last race.

The eighth edition of the electric formula series is drawing to a close. This weekend, Seoul in South Korea hosts the final doubleheader of the 2021/22 season. Not only are we saying goodbye to the current generation of cars, but also to the Mercedes team itself, which announced its retirement from Formula E after this season almost a year ago.

Not much new with Mercedes – they came in and almost immediately won

Mercedes EQ entered FE in 2019 and impressed in a coronavirus-influenced year, finishing third in its debut season. The German carmaker started the upcoming one famously. Three wins from the opening five e-Prix. But then the qualifying system of the time took full effect, punishing successful teams and drivers with almost forced starts from the back of the grid.

Either way, Mercedes driver Nyck de Vries could thank his luck most of all. With all his rivals suffering all sorts of troubles in the decisive race, the Dutchman was able to enjoy a lacklustre eighth place overall victory. Alongside his Formula 2 triumph, he was able to add the first ever World Championship title – recognised by the International Automobile Federation – to his collection.

At the same time, Mercedes also triumphed in the constructors’ battle, although, here again, it was with a good deal of luck. The aforementioned three victories from the start of the season (two for Vandoorne and just one for de Vries) were enough to give him the title, although he scored just three podiums afterwards.

Vandoorne is already reaching for the trophy. Which positions are enough to win him the world title?

With the advent of the new qualifying format, Formula E is no longer a lottery to see who wins the next race. Yet the element of great unpredictability remains in part. The fact that manufacturers don’t have as much freedom to develop their cars compared to, say, F1, is of course a big part of this.

Already seven teams out of eleven have won at least one race. Before the last round in Seoul, South Korea, however, only three teams are realistically in the hunt for the title – Mercedes, Venturi and DS Techeetah. Although Mercedes has a 36-point lead over Venturi, there are 94 points in play. So one bad race for the German carmaker could make the whole battle very dramatic.

As for the battle for the drivers’ title, Vandoorne also has 36 points on second-placed Mitch Evans. But here the maths is much more unforgiving for the Belgian’s rivals. Realistically, Evans and Edoardo Mortara, who is 41 points behind first-placed Vandoorne, are battling it out for the crown. Mathematically, we can still add Jean-Eric Vergne here. However, he would have to best win both races, add a double pole position and one fastest lap.

Vandoorne would be lucky to score 23 points in both races in Seoul. Either he settles for two fourth-place finishes or he takes a gamble and goes for the win in one of the races. Evans and Mortara, on the other hand, have no choice. Either they must hope that the Belgian suffers technical problems or an accident, or finish both races comfortably ahead of Vandoorne.

So everything is still open before the final round of the season. However, if Vandoorne simply finishes ahead of his rivals in the first race in Seoul, there is nothing to worry about after that. The 30-year-old Belgian will secure the Formula E world title early and become the seventh champion in the sport’s eight-year history.

Source:: FIA Formula E