“Mercedes Extends a ‘Welcome’ to de Vries for F1 Reserve Role
After being dropped by the Red Bull stable only ten races into his full-time rookie F1 season to make way for Daniel Ricciardo’s return, the FIA Formula 2 and Formula E champion, de Vries, faced disappointment. Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, commented that de Vries failed to deliver any standout performances, struggling to match his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.
Sharing his thoughts on social media, de Vries expressed the disappointment of his prematurely-ended F1 opportunity. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that life is a journey and sometimes the path to success can be challenging.
Amidst considering his next steps, the 28-year-old Dutch driver has been offered the chance to return to Mercedes in a reserve role, according to Mercedes F1 engineering director, Andrew Shovlin. However, Shovlin believes that de Vries’ ambition lies in securing a race seat rather than taking on a role out of the limelight.
Shovlin stated, “Nyck will be looking for more than just a simulator driver role; he’ll want to be actively racing. We’d certainly welcome him back to his previous role, as he proved to be very valuable to us. However, I suspect he’s focused on finding race seats, perhaps not only in Formula 1 but also in other big and competitive series.”
De Vries, who won the Formula E title with Mercedes, had previously been contracted to the F1 team as a test and reserve driver from 2020 to 2022. During his time with Mercedes, he was also in line to fill in for its powertrain customer teams, including Williams, Aston Martin, and McLaren.
One of the highlights of de Vries’ career came when he impressed everyone by securing a ninth-place finish in the 2022 Italian Grand Prix for Williams when Alex Albon was sidelined due to appendicitis.
Since parting ways with Mercedes, de Vries was spotted with Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff. While his future remains uncertain, de Vries’ talent and accomplishments make him a desirable candidate for various racing opportunities, whether it be in Formula 1 or other competitive series.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about reserve role
Question: Why was Nyck de Vries dropped by the Red Bull stable from his F1 full-time rookie season?
Answer: Nyck de Vries was dropped by the Red Bull stable after just 10 races into his F1 full-time rookie season to make way for the return of Daniel Ricciardo. Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, stated that de Vries failed to impress with any exceptional laps, and he struggled to match the performance of his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.
Question: What was Nyck de Vries’ reaction to his prematurely-ended F1 opportunity?
Answer: Nyck de Vries expressed his disappointment over the premature end of his F1 opportunity on social media. Despite the setback, he acknowledged that life is a journey and sometimes entails taking the hard road to achieve one’s goals.
Question: Is Nyck de Vries considering a return to Mercedes?
Answer: Yes, Nyck de Vries is considering a return to Mercedes, but not in a simulator driver role. Mercedes F1 engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, mentioned that de Vries would be “welcome” back in a reserve role at Brackley. However, de Vries is more likely to seek a front-line race seat rather than a role out of the limelight.
Question: What are some of Nyck de Vries’ achievements in motorsport?
Answer: Nyck de Vries is an accomplished driver who has won championships in both Formula 2 and Formula E. He secured the Formula E title with Mercedes, and during his time as a test and reserve driver with Mercedes F1 from 2020 to 2022, he also impressed by scoring ninth in the 2022 Italian Grand Prix for Williams when he stood in for Alex Albon, who was sidelined due to appendicitis.
Question: Which other racing opportunities is Nyck de Vries considering?
Answer: While Nyck de Vries is open to a return to Formula 1 or a reserve role at Mercedes, he is also exploring the possibility of racing opportunities in other big and competitive series. His talent and accomplishments, including being an F2 and Formula E champion, make him a desirable candidate for various racing options.
Question: How has Mercedes replaced Nyck de Vries after his departure?
Answer: After parting ways with Nyck de Vries, Mercedes has replaced him with former Haas driver Mick Schumacher for testing the W14 and handling most of the team’s simulator work.
More about reserve role
- Formula 2
- Formula E
- Red Bull Racing
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Helmut Marko
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Nyck de Vries Twitter
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
- Andrew Shovlin
- Formula 1
- FIA
- Italian Grand Prix
- Mick Schumacher
- Williams Racing
- Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team
- McLaren F1 Team
- Toto Wolff
5 comments
wow, de Vries is a champ in F2 n Formula E?! didn’t know dat! i’m rootin’ 4 him 2 find a winnin’ seat again. go nyck!
nyck’s gonna consider returnin’ 2 mercedes? cool! i hope he gets a race seat tho, not just sim drivin’. he’s got talent, ya know!
de Vries scored 9th in italy GP? that’s awesome, fillin’ in for albon. he’s got potential, he just needs the right chance. fingers crossed!
mick schumacher replacin’ de Vries? interesstin’ choice by mercedes. wonder how he’ll do on the w14! #F1buzz
man, de Vries got droppd so soon by red bull? no way! 🙁 they said he didnt do any amazin laps, but i think he’s a great driver! life’s full of ups n downs, right?