Vandoorne hopes Mercedes deal will follow Formula E switch

Stoffel Vandoorne hopes his move to join HWA in Formula E will ultimately land him a drive with Mercedes when the German marque enters the all-electric series next year. HWA are Mercedes-affiliated having effectively run a the company's DTM team since 1999 and will be replaced by a factory team in 2019/20.

Vandoorne will line up alongside long-time HWA DTM driver Gary Paffett next year, having received a personal recommendation from Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff.

It has also been reported that the Belgian could land simulator work for the Silver Arrows, having spent the last two years in F1 with McLaren and he is hoping to get under the Mercedes umbrella soon.

"We'll see, [but] yeah, that's definitely the target," he told Autosport of a potential season-six Mercedes deal.

"With this team I think for the future there is huge potential so you know it's good to join them now to be there at the start and hopefully I can give them the experience they need to develop and I would like to be part of that."

Although Mercedes are currently well-stocked for drivers with multi-time world champion Lewis Hamilton paired with Valtteri Bottas while Esteban Ocon and George Russell wait in the wings, impressing in FE could put Vandoorne into the discussion if he is a Mercedes driver.

He added: "I mean my main focus will be Formula E - that's for sure, this is where I will be racing the next season and where I want to put all my focus as well - but at the same time who knows?

"It's a bit too early. I think maybe in some way I could still be involved with Formula 1, but how that will be, at this time I can't really tell you.

"I am [in FE for the long-term], and when I signed up with HWA, I knew that this team has a lot of talents.

"There's a lot of drivers that combine different programmes - [my] main priority will be Formula E and so far there's not been really anything coming up for a second programme, but who knows?

"Now everyone kind of knows what I'm doing and we'll see whatever other opportunities come up."

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