Toto Wolff hopes Mercedes’ Formula E drivers will “find their way” to F1

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Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff says Mercedes’ Formula E drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries “deserve to be in Formula 1”.

Mercedes F1 team boss and head of Mercedes Motorsport Toto Wolff is present at this weekend’s Formula E London E-Prix.

At the even Wolff talked about the rumours that Mercedes’ Formula E drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries could find their way to Formula 1 in 2022.

Namely, the team they have been linked to is Williams. The doors would definitely be open for one or both drivers if George Russell makes a move to Mercedes next year.

While Vandoorne already drove in Formula 1 for McLaren from 2016 until 2018, de Vries is yet to make his F1 debut. Wolff believes both drivers would deserve this chance.

“Stoffel was thrown in a situation with McLaren that was difficult to handle back in the day,“ the Austrian said.

“They both deserve to be Formula 1 and I would very much hope they can find their way back.”

Wolff was then asked if both drivers would be let out of their Mercedes Formula E contracts if an opportunity to drive in Formula 1 presented itself.

“I’m really happy having them as our drivers in Formula E, I couldn’t wish for anybody else. But I would never be in the way of any driver if they were to have the possibility of driving in Formula 1.”


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De Vries told Motorsport.com that he was aware of the Williams rumour.

“I read that rumour too, and it was probably as much as a surprise to you as for me,” the Dutch driver said.

“I’m very happy with Mercedes and Formula E, and this is where I want to be succeeding. Whatever happens in the longer or mid-term future, I don’t know.”

As for Vandoorne, although he is Mercedes F1’s reserve driver, he wasn’t the one chosen to replace Lewis Hamilton when he contracted COVID-19 in 2020, instead that honour went to George Russell.

Vandoorne was asked if he felt Wolff owed him a favour for this omission.

“I don’t think that way, to be honest. Formula 1, from my side, I’ve had the opportunity to be there already,” Stoffel said.

“I’ve been there with McLaren, not in the best conditions, let’s say. For me it’s not like a must, it’s not an obsession, like I have to be there.

“Things are on the up [at Williams] but it’s not in the back of my mind,” concluded Vandoorne.

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