Vergne confirms he no longer holds Ferrari F1 role

The former Toro Rosso driver will instead become further immersed in Formula E, through not only his role as a driver at the Techeetah team, but also through a wider managerial remit at the Chinese squad.

Vergne is understood to have a stake in Techeetah, and has been a key driving force in building the team since it acquired Team Aguri's slot on the grid last summer.

"It was clear from the beginning [of the Ferrari role] that I would not continue as reserve anymore this season," said the Frenchman, who took his first Formula E podium of the season last weekend in Buenos Aires.

"I still have a lot of contact with Ferrari and good relationships there, but I'm not going to grands prix and filling the role I had."

The owners of the Techeetah Formula E team is Chinese Media Capital (CMC), which has recently bought into Formula E Holdings Ltd as an investor.

Vergne believes that it is the start of a long-term foundation for the Chinese interests to become a major force in the all-electric championship.

"Since we started working on this project it has always been the plan to make [the stakeholding] happen," he said.

"They are a big company and they have seen a very good opportunity to be in something which will grow and make a big splash."

Vergne has stated again his interest in making a Le Mans 24 Hours debut this summer, and the 26 year-old is known to be weighing up options in the LMP2 and GTE Pro classes.

"We are still working on it and it is really at front of my mind more now," he said. "I want to do Le Mans and some races in the WEC.

"I've got a few options but can't say anything in detail at the moment. It will be really interesting if I can do it this season."