In recent years Jean-Eric Vergne he was the leading face of the ‘new’ Formula E, becoming the only driver capable of winning two titles – moreover in a row – in the highly balanced electric series. The French veteran achieved championship success in 2018-2019, becoming one of the best known and most recognizable names in that world. From 2012 to 2014, however, Vergne was a young and appreciated Formula 1 talent, under the Toro Rosso team and among the eligible candidates to be able to aspire to the seat of his ‘older sister’ Red Bull, the team that in those years was the hegemonic force of the Circus. Vergne’s career in the most important motorsport series was however ‘held back’ by the rise of the young Dutch superstar who is now closely chasing his first world title: Max Verstappen.
Interviewed during the last episode of the official F1 podcast, Beyond the Grid, the star of Formula E has returned to talk about his departure from the Red Bull family and from Formula 1. A separation that took place – in the usual style of the Austrian team leaders – without particular sentimentality. “In the summer I was called and was told that I would be replaced by a younger rider. I knew it was Max Verstappen – said the native of Pontoise – that’s how the game works. There was no more room for Red Bull Racing. I hadn’t spoken to any other team because I belonged to the Red Bull family. This was perhaps a mistake on my part “ Vergne recognized. The regret of the current driver of the DS Techeetah team, however, is another. That winter, in fact, a place in Red Bull was freed up, thanks to thegoodbye of Sebastian Vettel, direct to Ferrari. Marko promoted Kvyat, Vergne’s companion in the Faenza stable. The transalpine, however, is convinced that that place could have been his.
“I was at Toro Rosso to go to Red Bull one day. After three years, there was no longer a place available and Helmut Marko told me it would be over at the end of the year. I was happy that he told me so early in the season, but at the same time this was also my biggest problem. Immediately after they announced Daniil Kvyat [in Red Bull], without having talked about it with me. There was another promising young talent, Carlos Sainz, who they put in Kvyat’s place. This was complicated for me. I wish Helmut had handled this the way he usually does – Vergne concluded – and waited until the last race of the season. Because at that point I was in a better position than Kvyat“.
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