The final race weekend of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team to Seoul and a new street circuit on the racing calendar as the team bids farewell to the all-electric racing series
- This coming weekend in Seoul, the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team will say goodbye to the all-electric racing series after three seasons as contestants. Going into the last two races of the current campaign, Stoffel Vandoorne and the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team lead the Drivers’ and the Team World Championships respectively.
- The 2.621 km street circuit in the South Korean capital of Seoul will be hosting its first ever Formula E race this coming weekend.
- Stoffel Vandoorne: “It’s a new track with new conditions, and as a team, we do quite well in preparing for those kinds of events. Hopefully, we can capitalise on that ability this time as well.”
- Nyck de Vries: “As a team, we are in a really good position currently, however, we will need to finish the task at hand. Our past success this season is no guarantee for a good result this weekend. However, the capabilities and strengths of the team make me feel confident that we can deliver a beautiful and fitting end to this chapter as a team.”
- Ian James: “Seoul will no doubt prove an incredible host to the Season 8 finale. It will provide a fitting location in which to celebrate the end of an era for the team – and what a ride it’s been! I, for one, can’t wait to get the event underway.”
- Further information, statistics and facts about the upcoming E-Prix can be found in the Race Facts on our media site
The scene is set for a thrilling ABB FIA Formula E World Championship debut on the streets of Seoul. The premiere in South Korea is a historic weekend for various reasons. Rounds 15 and 16 will mark the end of a fiercely contested season, and at the same time, Sunday’s grand finale is also the 100th E-Prix in the history of the racing series and the last with the current Gen2 cars. It is also the last outing for the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, which is retiring from Formula E racing after three seasons.
With its 22 turns, the 2.621 km circuit in Seoul is terra incognita for all drivers and the teams. It runs through the grounds of the Olympic Park and also partly through the Olympic Stadium, where the 1988 Summer Games were held.
The lap starts with a tight, technical section before the drivers enter the Olympic Stadium itself. The exit takes them into several long straights, each connected by 90-degree turns.
The anticipated top speed is 205 km/h which is reached at the end of the straight leading into the final Turn 22. This also presents one of the two best overtaking opportunities on the track, the other coming on the approach to Turn 1. The lap time is expected to average out at 1:20.1 minutes, which extrapolates to a race distance of 34+1 laps. The Activation Zone for Attack Mode is on the outside of Turn 10, and the time loss incurred is calculated to be just under one second.
Conditions of the tarmac are likely to change significantly over the course of the weekend, which means that the drivers and teams will have to respond and adapt accordingly. In addition, high temperatures are to be expected in Seoul at this time of year, which will affect both the drivers and the cars. At the same time, there is also a high probability of heavy rain showers due to the high humidity.
After 14 of 16 races, Stoffel Vandoorne (185 points) leads the Drivers’ Championship by a 36-point margin ahead of Mitch Evans (149). Stoffel has shown himself to be a model of consistency so far, finishing among the points in 13 of the 14 races, and only failing to score in Mexico where he came eleventh. In doing so, he has set a new record for most points finishes in a season. His team-mate Nyck de Vries (106 points) is in eighth place. The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team (291 points) leads the Team Standings by 36 points ahead of Venturi Racing (255 points).
Comments ahead of the Seoul E-Prix 2022
Stoffel Vandoorne:
“It looks like we are in for a tricky weekend in Seoul, partly because of the weather, but also with it being a new track for all of us. So, there are quite a few unpredictable factors in the run-up. For me, though, it’s just a race like any other. Sure, it’s the last race weekend of the season, so maybe it’s a bit more important in terms of deciding the championship, but that doesn’t change my mindset or my approach; I don’t want to change what I have been doing since the start of the year. I think it even represents an opportunity for us: it’s a new track with new conditions, and as a team, we do quite well in preparing for those kinds of events. Hopefully we can capitalise on that ability this time as well.”
Nyck de Vries:
“I’m sure most people will have seen the weather conditions and predictions for this week in Seoul by now. Hopefully the conditions improve soon, so the impact on both the city and our race weekend stay to a minimum. Personally, I am optimistic about the prospect of that – I’m looking forward to driving at a new track. Seoul is already the last race of the season, it’s come quickly. As a team, we are in a really good position currently, however, we will need to finish the task at hand. We cannot rest yet, and the past success this season is no guarantee for a good result this weekend. However, the capabilities and strengths of the team make me feel confident that we can deliver a beautiful and fitting end to this chapter as a team.”
Ian James, Team Principal:
“We are about to hit the track for the very last time as the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team this weekend. After three incredible seasons in Formula E, Mercedes-EQ will leave the series. However, before we say our goodbyes, there is an exciting and important task at hand: we want to end the season and this journey on a high. We’ve put ourselves in a great position to do so. Over the past years, we’ve been building a team capable of delivering the best results, and so far this season the team has proven itself worthy. That being said, we approach this race weekend as every other race weekend; with a good dose of humility and determination. The competition has been stronger than ever this season and are rightfully on the hunt for the ultimate end result.
Apart from the competition, Seoul will bring its own challenges for the team: the track is completely new and the weather conditions are likely to add further complexity. It’s up to us to adapt to the circumstances as well as we possibly can.
Seoul will no doubt prove an incredible host to the Season 8 finale. It will provide a fitting location in which to celebrate the end of an era for the team – and what a ride it’s been! I, for one, can’t wait to get the event underway.”
Where to watch
Don’t miss any of the action this weekend, and follow the team on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Or, head here to find out how to watch all sessions live in your region.
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Round 15 |
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Session |
Date |
Time (BST) |
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Practice 1 |
13 August 2022 |
00:00-00:30 |
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Practice 2 |
13 August 2022 |
01:50-02:20 |
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Qualifying |
13 August 2022 |
03:40-04:55 |
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E-Prix |
13 August 2022 |
08:04-09:00 |
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Round 16 |
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Session |
Date |
Time (BST) |
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Practice 3 |
14 August 2022 |
01:30-02:00 |
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Qualifying |
14 August 2022 |
03:40-04:55 |
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E-Prix |
14 August 2022 |
08:04-09:00 |