P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Stoffel Vandoorne’s deal to leave Peugeot and join Hyundai’s Genesis Magma Racing World Endurance Championship project for 2026 has fallen through in a disagreement over Formula E and he will stay at Peugeot after all
Stoffel Vandoorne’s move from Peugeot to Hyundai’s Genesis Magma Racing WEC project for 2026 fell through due to a disagreement about Formula E, resulting in his decision to stay with Peugeot.
The upcoming seasons in WEC are set to be intense with Genesis entering in 2026, Ford and McLaren joining in 2027, and Porsche deciding to leave after the current campaign, creating a frenzy in the driver market.
Following the 2025 WEC finale, on November 9th during the rookie test, Peugeot will introduce two new drivers, Mathias Beche and Alex Quinn, alongside their full-season signing Nick Cassidy for 2026.
Even though Beche and Quinn are not expected to race the 9X8 in 2026, the unexpected return of Vandoorne has caused a stir, as he came back to Peugeot after the Genesis deal fell apart.
Vandoorne’s decision not to pursue the Genesis opportunity was influenced by his reluctance to mix WEC and Formula E commitments, leading to Peugeot needing to find a sixth driver for the 2026 season after Jean-Eric Vergne opted to step back.
Despite the sudden need for another driver, Vandoorne is seen as the perfect fit for Peugeot due to his familiarity with the team and absence of any previous conflicts, aligning both parties’ needs in an unexpected turn of events.
