• NEOM congratulates its partner, the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, on a historic Season 7 ABB FIA Formula E World Teams’ Championship win
• Team Driver Nyck de Vries also managed to secure the Drivers’ Championship with a brave performance during an exciting final race of Season 7
• De Vries’ teammate Stoffel Vandoorne, who started the race from pole, enjoyed a P3 finish, capping off a fantastic weekend for the German team
August 16, 2021: The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team and its Principal Partner NEOM celebrated a monumental final round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Berlin.
With the Championship in the balance, the German team secured crucial points to take them clear of the pack, securing both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship titles in a dramatic final race. With three other rival contenders crashing out during the early stages of the race, Nyck de Vries managed to climb up from P13 to P8, whilst his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne, who started from pole position, secured a well fought podium finish at P3.
Before the first race of Season 7, the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team took to the scenic roads of NEOM, with
a demonstration run of its Mercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 02. The pre-season drive was the first time an all-electric vehicle was driven in NEOM, providing a glimpse into the future mobility of the destination, with NEOM seeking to set new standards in sustainability and electric mobility infrastructure.
Jan Paterson, Managing Director of Sport at NEOM, said: “What a high note to cap off a fantastic Season 7 for our partnership with the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team. They have been hugely impressive right from the first race weekend in Diriyah, all the way to securing this incredible double Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship win in Berlin.”
Ian James, Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team Principal said: “We've added to over 125 years of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport heritage by winning not only the Drivers' but also the Teams' World Championship in Formula E.
“First of all, for Nyck this is testimony to his driving throughout the season, his approach, his hard work and also to the out-and-out racer that he truly is. Today, he drove with tenacity and with grit, which has resulted in the situation that we happily find ourselves in today. For the team, this is also indicative of all of the endless hours of work and effort that they have put into developing the car, as well as every other aspect of a team that really is world-class standard. I am proud to call each and every one of them my teammates, and they are deserving of this win.”
Recently as part of the partnership, a pilot placement program kicked off, giving two Saudi graduates from NEOM’s GrOW program the chance to undertake a one-year placement with the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team in the UK. The first of several global opportunities, the placement program is designed to offer a world-class experience across a range of roles in the motorsport industry, nurturing the next generation of talent.
Paterson added: “Celebrating a successful season both on and off the track, we have continued to see the power of the partnership grow and deliver on our shared objectives, including driving a strong sustainable narrative in the performance sport world. It’s been great to see initiatives like the graduate placement program come to fruition, providing young Saudis with vital career development opportunities. We look forward to a promising next season, where we will continue our work to be at the forefront of green technology and mobility solutions.”