Vandoorne to exit Peugeot's WEC team early, departure moved up to Fuji

Peugeot has confirmed that Stoffel Vandoorne will part company with its Hypercar squad in the World Endurance Championship once this weekend's Fuji 6 Hours is completed.

The Belgian driver had already been due to leave the French manufacturer at the close of the current WEC campaign, with his attention set to turn to an expected Formula E programme alongside Jaguar.

Peugeot has now chosen to bring that exit forward, meaning Fuji will mark Vandoorne's final appearance for the team rather than the season finale.

The decision shortens what had been a settled timeline, with the team opting to make the change before the WEC calendar has run its course rather than wait for the year to conclude.

Vandoorne's move away from Peugeot fits into a wider shift in his career, as he looks to commit fully to a return to single-seater competition with Jaguar's Formula E outfit.

According to Autosport, the manufacturer's call to accelerate the departure is not the first instance of this kind of change within the team, though further detail on that context was not made available.

Attention at Fuji will now turn to how Peugeot manages the remainder of its Hypercar campaign without Vandoorne, and to who takes his place alongside the team for the balance of the season.

Vandoorne's switch to Formula E, should it be finalised, would represent a return to a series closely tied to his single-seater background, following his prior career in Formula 1.

Further details on Peugeot's line-up beyond Fuji, and on the formal confirmation of Vandoorne's Formula E deal with Jaguar, are expected in the coming weeks as both parties finalise their plans.