Former champion makes Formula E return in reserve role

Written by Vyas Ponnuri

A former Formula E champion will be returning to the series, albeit in newer surroundings, and as a reserve driver to two veteran racers in the title.

Vandoorne becomes Jaguar's reserve driver for Season 10 | Credit: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Images

Stoffel Vandoorne joins Jaguar's Formula E operation in a reserve role, serving as a formidable reserve at the Kidlington-based outfit. Should the regulars Mitch Evans or António Félix da Costa be unable to fulfill their operations, Vandoorne will step in as a super sub and take to the track once again.

Vandoorne knows what it takes to win a world championship, having won the Drivers' Championship with Mercedes EQ back in Season 8 in 2022. Coincidentally, a familiar figure at the helm back then, team principal Ian James, is now heading up Jaguar's electric racing operations, marking a reunion of sorts.

Since he won the title for Mercedes EQ, Vandoorne has been actively involved in racing operations for Stellantis brands. The Belgian racer teamed up with two-time Formula E champion Jean-Éric Vergne at the new DS Penske collaboration for Seasons 9 and 10, securing a podium at Monaco in the latter campaign, in a tough two years that marked the start of the Gen3 era.

Vandoorne then switched to the Maserati outfit alongside Jake Hughes, as the Monaco-owned team opted for a reboot of their driver line-up for Season 11. Another tough season followed for the team in blue, although Vandoorne managed to make the top step of the podium in Tokyo, marking Maserati's second win in two years at the venue.

He also finished fourth in London, with these races being the hallmark of the Belgian driver's Season 11 campaign. Vandoorne managed to amass 62 points during the season, finishing 14th in the standings, while Maserati wound up ninth in the constructors' standings to bring a troubled three years to an end.

All the while, Vandoorne had also been running dual campaigns as part of his affiliation with the Stellantis-owned brands, driving two seasons for Peugeot in the hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The No. 94 car piloted by Vandoorne, Loïc Duval and Malthe Jakobsen earned a podium in a wet race at the Circuit of the Americas, starting outside the top ten.

Vandoorne left the Peugeot squad after the 6 Hours of Fuji concluded, with major sources hinting at a move to the Genesis outfit, which will be entering the hypercar class in 2026.

Tom Dillmann returns as Jaguar's sim and development driver for the sixth season | Credit: 24h of Le Mans

Jaguar have also announced the retention of Tom Dillmann as their Simulator and Development driver for 2026. Dillmann brings in a wealth of experience in sportscar racing to the Jaguar outfit, having raced in the LMP2 class of the WEC, and was also part of the winning Inter Europol outfit at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025. He currently races in the European Le Mans Series.

Dillmann has also raced in Formula E before, having competed in two campaigns with the Venturi outfit in Seasons 5 and 6, and has served as Jaguar's development driver since Season 7.

Meanwhile, Jaguar's form took a significant leap, as the team's late form helped them win four races on the bounce to round out Season 11, finishing second in the constructors' standings, while Nick Cassidy ended second in the drivers' standings for the team.

With Evans and da Costa, Jaguar will be aiming to replicate their 2025 finishing position, potentially even going one better and claim both championships in 2026, the final year of Formula E's Gen3 era.