Vandoorne becomes Formula E champion as Mercedes exit series

Stoffel Vandoorne has won the 2022 Formula E World Championship with Mercedes, in what was the team's last race in the series.

Vandoorne beat nearest title rival Mitch Evans in the season finale at the Seoul E-Prix by finishing in second, with Evans unable to climb higher than P7 in his Jaguar.

The Belgian driver succeeds teammate Nyck de Vries, who won the championship in 2021, meaning that the Mercedes-EQ outfit clinched back-to-back titles ahead of their exit from Formula E.

Speaking on the team radio at the end of the race, Vandoorne said: "What a way to end that.

"What a journey this has been. We deserved this so much. We’re going to have so many memories. Thank you so much.

"Well done to Mitch as well for pushing me all year long. It was an awesome fight."

Vandoorne's triumph comes amid Mercedes' exit

The title marks Vandoorne's first since his victory in GP2 back in 2015, with his subsequent two-year stint in Formula 1 with McLaren bringing little in the way of results.

However, it will be the last for Mercedes in Formula E. The team announced in 2021 that they would withdraw from the category at the end of the current season.

McLaren confirmed earlier in 2022 that they had acquired the outfit, meaning that the Woking-based squad will arrive into Formula E for the beginning of the Gen3 era.