Jean Eric Vergne approached by F1 team for 2019 season, and he concedes that he is looking forward to a F1 return
Formula 1 is experiencing a massive summer break, with drivers and teams dishing out surprising decisions and creating ruckus in the driver market.
It all started with Ricciardo’s decision to move to Renault, followed by Alonso announcing his retirement.
The gates have now been opened for a few more ‘crazy moves’ and it looks like it is going to be an eventful second half of the season.
Jean Eric Vergne, the former Toro Rosso driver has been approached by a Formula 1 team, as confirmed by him during an interview with crash.net
Vergne, who was dropped from the Toro Rosso team after having driven for them from 2012-14, recently won his maiden Formula E championship, registering a record number of points while doing so.
“It’s a possibility. It’s funny how the world of motorsport changes,” he said, as quoted by crash.net when asked about a move to F1.
“When you change your state of mind, when you change a little bit how you work, you see the results straight away. You see it in the results, and you see it in how people look at you and how they speak to you. When you start representing a brand what you are, it changes a lot of things.
“Three years ago, I don’t think anybody would have called me from F1 and said: ‘Hey, do you have a contract for next season?’ So it’s great.” he added.
Vergne also spoke about how F1 should consider levelling the field a little, wherein new and smaller teams can also contend for the championship.
“Because it is like this, maybe Formula 1 wants to change that a little bit,” Vergne said.
“That’s the good thing about Formula E. With our team, it’s like if Marussia would have won in Formula 1. It would be impossible in F1. But maybe that can change. Maybe some teams can raise their games and start fighting for wins again.
“It’s something that would interest me, to have another new, big challenge. This time, I think I have all the tools at my disposal to do a good job in F1.” he added.
Vergne stressed on the fact that he wasn’t at all bitter about that Toro Rosso snub. He feels that there is an opportunity to return to F1 now, one that he would consider for sure.
“In my mind, I’m happy where I am,” Vergne said.
“I’m not bitter. I see my ex-teammate, Daniel, winning races. I was in Monaco and I was so happy for him when he won.
“I could be bitter, saying: ‘I was beating this guy, I was close to him, and now he’s winning and he’s got this contract and this future.’
“I’m not bitter at all. I’m very happy with what I have. I think things happen for a reason. Who knows where he’s going to be in 10 years and where I’m going to be in 10 years?
“So no, I’m not disappointed any more. I learned from my mistakes, I learned from the bad things that happened, and I’m actually thankful for what happened to me.
“But now, if a good opportunity comes in Formula 1, I would consider it.” he added.
