Stoffel Vandoorne will play a role in Mercedes’ Formula 1 programme from 2019 as part of his Formula E dea♔l with HWA, which is linked to the German manufacturer.

Vandoorne will make his final F1 start for McLaren this weekend in Abu Dhabi ahead of his move into For๊mula E, where he will debut for the new HWAꦉ Racelab team in Saudi Arabia on December 15.

HWA will evolve into the Mercedes factory Formula E team for the 2019/20 season, giving Vandoorne a lin꧙k to the manufacturer that he previously worked with when it was McLaren’s F1 💦engine supplier.

Vandoꦿorne confirmed when asked by ltxcn.top in Abu Dhabi 🅘that he would be involved in Mercedes’ F1 project next year, expressing his excitement for the new role.

“I will be involved with them. I🌠’ll be doing the simulator work for them in the Formula 1 team, with Mercedes,” Vandoorne said.

“That’s an excitin✱g part for me as well, to still be involved in the F1 world and to be with the world champions as well. For me it wi꧒ll be a very interesting move as well.

“I’m sure I can bring them a lot of fresh ideas b🐻ut also for me to see the differences there are because I’ve only workeꩵd with McLaren in Formula 1. So it’s exciting for me as well to have a bit of a fresh environment.”

While Vandoorne has said he is not t𝓰reating Formula E as a stop-gap ahead of a possible return to F1 after two difficult years with McLaren, he acknowledged the importance of keeping links open through Mercedes.

“It’s definitely good to keep involved in the [F1] world, because you never know what happens in the futu𒁏re,” Vandoorne said.

“I think to be involved with Mercedes and to perform the work for them it’s good that they will know exactly what I’m capable of do🎀ing.

“W🐬e don’t know what the driver market is going to do in the future. It was a bit crazy this season and who knows what it’ll be next season. It’s hard to tell.

“So it’s good to be involved and to🅷 be prepared for anything that 𒁏comes up."