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Vandoorne's Round 8 masterclass in Tokyo

FEATURE 22 May 2025 3 Mins

When the clouds rolled into Tokyo, few would have predicted that Stoffel Vandoorne, starting well down in 14th on the grid, would emerge as the race winner.

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^{Words: Aisha Daulay}

Yet against all odds, on a drenched circuit and amid race-long chaos, the Belgian driver delivered one of the most composed and strategic performances in recent Formula E history: spinning mid-race, recovering, and ultimately crossing the line first to hand Maserati their second victory in the capital.

Survival of the Smartest

As Round 8 got underway, Oliver Rowland seized the early advantage from pole, while Vandoorne flagged at the back. The track was slick, visibility was poor, and conditions changed by the minute.

Maserati and Vandoorne opted to take a calculated risk early in the race, deploying a daring PIT BOOST strategy - trying to get the stop out of the way with the thought that a race stoppage would follow, effectively meaning the time taken to complete stop would be erased, with everyone else a net 30 seconds or so down and yet to pit.

While several drivers faltered, some struggling for grip, others caught in mid-pack squabbles, Vandoorne stayed clean and methodically climbed the order. By Lap 24, he had moved up to sixth. Then came a moment that could have undone it all: a spin.

In most Formula E encounters, that would have been the end. But Vandoorne kept his cool, recovered swiftly, and stayed well clear. Just a few laps later, he surged into the lead. In doing so, he became the first driver in Formula E history to win a race after spinning, a fitting statistic in a race defined by chaos and control.

"It was not an easy race, but a lot of opportunities with the rain and the management," said the Belgian. "We kind of gamble a little bit with our strategy but it was also calculated at the same time. The plan perfectly played in our hands, and the chances of this happening in Formula E are very, very slim.

"It was difficult because I had to manage so many things. I was on the radio with my engineer in between laps and he was giving me advice on the gap that I had to Oliver (Rowland) to make sure I was safe enough with my energy.

"I was struggling, and I was down to 10% at some point and I had to bring the car home so there was a lot of management to do."

Vandoorne’s win in Tokyo marks his first visit to the top step of the podium since his title-winning season in 2022. Since then, a difficult 2022/23 campaign saw him finish 11th in the championship, but 2023/24 had been better, with just one podium and 55 points to his name between then and now

His switch to Maserati MSG Racing for Season 10 has brought a much-needed reset. Though consistency has been his strength, regularly finishing in the top ten, Tokyo finally gave him the breakthrough result that’s eluded him for over a year.

"I’m just happy for the team, for myself, it’s been a little while." He continued, "They are such a good group of people, some familiar faces from the past as well, their vibe is super cool, their base is Monaco and that is my home as well. They are making my life easy."

This win also adds another proud chapter to Maserati’s growing Formula E presence. The Monaco-based outfit famously won here last year with Maximilian Guenther’s impressive drive. This year, they proved they can win through resilience and execution, even without starting up front.

Back-to-back victories in Tokyo now mean more than just celebration. With this victory, Maserati climbs to seventh in the Teams’ Championship, just 18 points behind DS PENSKE in fifth. Meanwhile, Vandoorne moves up to tenth in the Drivers’ standings, just one point behind Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi.

As the series heads to Shanghai on 31 May, one thing is clear: the champion is back, and so is his winning instinct.

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2025 Shanghai E-Prix Rounds 10 and 11

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