The Steering Column | Stoffel on Le Mans, slowing down in Switzerland, and finding the perfect seating position with Adrian Newey

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A snapshot in time from life in the fast lane. The Aston Martin Aramco driver squad shares what's on their mind right now and what they've been up to, both on and off the track. Fresh from completing his seventh Formula E season, Stoffel Vandoorne checks in after a hectic first half of the year juggling his campaigns in the all-electric single-seater series and the World Endurance Championship alongside Test and Reserve driver duties for Aston Martin Aramco.

By Stoffel Vandoorne.

"I've just got home from London following the Formula E season finale but I'm not putting my suitcase into storage just yet.

"I'm getting ready for a trip to Switzerland to get some much-needed downtime, before embarking on a busy second part of the year where I'll dive into Aston Martin Aramco's crucial development work for 2026.

"But, taking a break from packing for a moment, let me bring you up to speed with my 2025 so far in my edition of 'The Steering Column'.

A FLAT OUT FIRST HALF

"I've been non-stop. The Formula E season began last December, whilst I've also driven several WEC rounds and been to a handful of Grands Prix with Aston Martin Aramco.

"It's been an up and down season in Formula E. We've had some high points and some tough races, and there's been plenty to get our heads around in terms of new tyres, four-wheel drive being introduced and getting to know each other as I joined a new team for this year.

"The highlight was winning in the wet in Tokyo. It's been difficult not winning over the past couple of years and this season we've not been where we want to be as a team, but to get a victory under our belt was a great feeling for everyone. Tasting champagne on the top step never gets old. I firmly believe, if everything falls into place, I can fight for another championship in the series.

"As for WEC, a lot of people are saying we're in a 'golden era' and I firmly agree. We have many manufacturers competing in the Hypercar class – it's been great to see Aston Martin enter and I'm sure they'll get stronger as they gain experience – and it's brilliant for fans to watch such iconic automotive brands going wheel to wheel.

"As drivers we can feel WEC growing, especially when you see the big crowds coming to the European races in particular, and that's the case most of all at Le Mans.

"The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the biggest race for everyone connected to the championship and I loved being part of it in June. Weeks before the event you feel the hype building.

"As soon as you arrive at the Circuit de la Sarthe you see the magnitude of the event, even from just the sheer number of fans in attendance.

"What makes it so special is it's almost a standalone event inside the championship. You can struggle in all the other races but, if you have a good Le Mans, your year is a success. It's the one everyone wants to win.

"This year we had a tough result, finishing 11th, but we were never really the favourites and I think we executed our race well – so much must come together in a 24-hour race. We didn't make any mistakes and we had pretty good strategy, we were just missing general pace.

"It's an event I want to compete in for many years and I'll be doing everything in my power to get into a position where I can challenge for victory. It's one of the biggest things missing from my CV. I've won a lot of other championships and races, but Le Mans is still one of the biggest boxes I want to tick."

I'm excited and intrigued to get a better feel for the 2026 car.

FULL FOCUS ON F1

"I've not been to many Grands Prix with Aston Martin Aramco so far this year because of my schedule, but in the second part of the season I'm going to be very involved, both trackside and in the simulator, as the team continues to gear up for 2026.

"I'm very excited to be at more Grands Prix in the second half of the campaign. It's much more valuable for me to be trackside so I can see what is going on and hear from Lance and Fernando. That's when you get a much better idea of what is needed to develop the car and what we need to focus on for the future, which is very important given the big technical regulation changes on the horizon.

"There's a lot of focus inside the team to get 2026 right. We're becoming a works team with our partnership with Honda, we're designing our own gearbox, and talented people continue to join our journey, including Adrian Newey.

"I met Adrian at this year's Monaco Grand Prix and also worked with him at the AMR Technology Campus on a seating position for the 2026 car a few weeks ago.

"To have someone in the team who's been as successful as him is huge. He's a great leader, he's got great vision in terms of what to spend time and focus on and he relays that to the team. He's flat out on 2026.

"But obviously, not everything relies on him. Getting ready for next season is a team effort; everyone has their part to play and I'm looking forward to ramping up my duties for the rest of this year.

"I'm excited and intrigued to get a better feel for the 2026 car and give my feedback to help the team."

READY TO RECHARGE

"That's all to come but, first and foremost, I'm looking forward to a break.

"I love racing, and being a busy racing driver is the best job in the world, but it's also important to rest.

"It's been an intense first part of the year, travelling from one race to another across continents and time zones – and it's not always easy to manage your energy in those periods – so I need a bit of downtime to fully recover and reset, and prepare for the second half of the year.

"I won't be venturing too far from home in Monaco. But, to escape the heat that usually builds there this time of year, I'm heading to Switzerland for a holiday. It's a country I've not visited a lot but it's beautiful and I've wanted to see more of it for some time.

"As a racing driver, I'm used to a very fast-paced life, constantly on the move, but I'm hoping this trip will be the complete opposite of that. I want to go on hikes, explore, and escape for a bit.

"I love getting outside into nature and enjoying the quietness and serenity of it. It's hard to fully switch off but going somewhere where it's peaceful gives me the best chance to do that. I'm looking forward to a temporary change of pace, and then I'll be attacking the rest of the year."