Current Formula E Champion, Jean-Eric Vergne has revealed that there may be the potential for a return to Formula 1 for the 2019 season, after being approached by a team currently competing in the sport.
Vergne previously competed in F1 from 2012-14, racing for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing‘s sister junior team Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda, although he was let go by Red Bull at the end of the 2014 season.
Since then, he has become a well-respected and successful driver in both FE and LMP2. The Frenchman won the electric single-seaters 2017-18 title, and has also raced in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), as well as the European Le Mans Series.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Vergne said that Australian Daniel Ricciardo‘s surprise move to the Renault Sport Formula One Team could assist him in making a comeback, but stressed that although he had “talked to a team”, it was not Red Bull.
“It’s very funny, two years ago F1 was something which would never open its doors to me.” said the Frenchman, in his appearance on a recent episode of The Autosport Podcast.
Even though he has not yet been guaranteed a seat for next season, Vergne remains optimistic.
“Today, it’s not completely opened, but I’m talking to some teams and it’s starting to move a little bit. With Daniel [Ricciardo] going to Renault it changed completely the driver market.
“To have some teams calling me to know what I’m going to do next it feels like ‘ah, I exist!’ for Formula 1.”
Vergne also said that he feels he has not yet had his chance in the sport.
“What would be really nice is to have a proper chance in F1. I have got some unfinished business there and with everything I’ve learnt lately, I think it would be a completely different story.”
