Stoffel Vandoorne will make a surprise return to Peugeot TotalEnergies’ Hypercar line-up next year, as Jean-Éric Vergne steps back to focus on development duties.

The Belgian joined Peugeot in 2023, making his race debut at that year’s 6 Hours of Fuji in place of the injured Nico Müller. He then joined the full-time roster for 2024, with the headline result being a podium finish at this year’s Lone Star Le Mans event at the Circuit of the Americas.

Vandoorne’s Peugeot contract expired after the previous FIA WEC event at Fuji, with the 33-year-old replaced in the #94 9X8 for this weekend’s Bahrain finale by Théo Pourchaire.

However, an agreement has been reached for Vandoorne to return to Peugeot’s line-up for the 2026 season, the French marque confirmed on social media earlier today.

Stoffel and JEV have got something to clear up for you…
If you still haven’t got it, the key takeaways :
Stoffel is back and JEV will focus on development for the 2026 season!@JeanEricVergne @svandoorne #WEC #Peugeot9X8 pic.twitter.com/zYyOX2Mflx

— Peugeot Sport (@peugeotsport) November 4, 2025

Vandoorne’s drive at Peugeot adds a race programme to his 2026 plans, which previously only involved a reserve driver deal at Jaguar TCS Racing in FIA Formula E.

The opening for Vandoorne was created by Vergne stepping back into a development role. The Frenchman will race in FIA Formula E with Citroën in 2026, alongside developing Stellantis Motorsport’s fourth-generation Formula E powertrain. DSC is also aware that Peugeot is looking into building a successor to its 9X8 Hypercar.

Vergne has raced for Peugeot since the manufacturer made its FIA WEC debut in 2022, scoring three podiums for the brand, including its first at Monza in 2023, and last time out at Fuji Speedway.

This is the latest move Peugeot has made in the Hypercar driver market, as it overhauls its roster for 2026.

Nick Cassidy and Pourchaire have been confirmed to be joining the 9X8 programme, with Mikkel Jensen departing and Vergne now stepping back.

The 2025 FIA WEC season concludes this weekend with the 8 Hours of Bahrain.

Image courtesy of Stellantis Motorsport