Former AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries has (finally) given an in-depth response to his forced departure from Formula 1 after the 2023 British Grand Prix. The former Formula E world champion spoke with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on several topics, including his untimely departure from the pinnacle of motorsport.
The Dutchman was relieved of his duties by Dr. Helmut Marko after just ten Grands Prix last year, being replaced by Red Bull’s prodigal son Daniel Ricciardo. De Vries claims that, in the end, he wasn’t too bothered by the whole ordeal.
“I think I’ve been able to put it in perspective relatively quickly. The support I received was massive. Altogether I have received about 4000 messages, which made me feel better.
“Of course I could go and sit in a corner crying, but that doesn’t help anyone. It was a painful experience, which I think is normal, but everyone has ups and downs. And in the end, pain is also part of life.”
As often in Formula 1 his departure was preceeded by ever increasing speculations on his position, not in the last place from Dr. Marko himself. De Vries tried to close himself off from everything, but that doesn’t mean the announcement blindsided him.
“I didn’t pay too much attention and tried to stay away from everything as much as possible,” he explains. “But I can’t say the decision was a huge surprise. I’m not naive.”
“And whether it was fair or just is really not relevant for me. I also have no hard feelings towards Helmut Marko, Daniel Ricciardo or his replacement Liam Lawson. It’s all part of the business and I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given.”
After his one-off performance for Williams in 2022 he was promoted to team leader by both Marko and team principal Franz Tost, hoping he would take the boisterous Yuki Tsunoda by the hand and help AlphaTauri forward. A role some suggest might have added some unnecessary extra pressure.
“I don’t see it that way,” De Vries says. “I’m a perfectionist, so there are always situations and moments which in hindsight make me think: I could have done a better job there. In the end I think I just wasn’t totally in my place, at that moment. It just didn’t work.”
He adds: “Formula 1 is something I’ve dreamt of for so long, and then it is all over so quickly. That is a huge disappointment. But that’s part of life and also a bit of the sport. It might sound overly rational, but that’s how I see it. I embrace the things that have now crossed my path.”
Next to the press and Dr. Marko there was also criticism from the general public on social media, something De Vries completely ignores: “Which is for the best, cause I don’t have any control over it. It is really easy to criticise someone from the couch or with a phone in your hand.
“I also don’t think I need to evaluate my performances. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. It happened how it happened, it is what it is, and I continue my career in other classes. In the end I’m doing this for myself. It is my career and I think motorsports is the best thing there is. It is my life, I do it my way and steer my own course.”
And next up on the horizon is his return to Formula E, which has it’s opening race in Mexico-City next week.
“As a young driver growing up there’s only one goal, and that’s Formula 1,” he explains. “It’s the crown jewel of our sport, but I learned and realised there is more than that. Personally speaking I’ve had loads of fun in Formula E and WEC [the World Endurance Championship], so I’m really looking forward to both.
“There is more to motorsports than just Formula 1, although I understand that the general public might see this differently”
De Vries will drive for Mahindra in next season, a team that had quite the lacklustre 2023 campaign, something he acknowlegdes in speaking out his ambitions for 2024.
“It’s not like we will suddenly be championship contenders, but there is definitely potential in the team an the organisation. In 2025 the cars will change again, which means the development and testing will begin soon.”
“Hopefully we can lay the foundations in the coming season to make further progress during next year. As a team we are in a building phase, and personally I’m feeling the same and considering this as a long-term collaboration.”
The sudden burst of spare time he got after his departure from Formula 1 meant he had time to do Harvard’s Negotiation and Leadership-programme in Cambridge, but soon the preparations for the new season started. As De Vries says: “Motorsports remains my passion and my life, and I’m very happy with the new chapters that are coming up.”
The other chapter next to the aforementioned Formula E drive for Mahindra, is a drive for Toyota’s factory outfit in WEC, where he is promoted from reserve driver to full time racer alongside Mike Conway and former Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi.
“A fantastic team,” De Vries reckons. “WEC has a tremendous momentum at the moment. There are 18 cars on the Hypercar entry list, with many different manufacturers.”
Toyota is the dominant force in the fastest Hypercar class for a few years, so the goal is of course to win and re-take the crown in the Le Mans 24 hours.
“At Toyota we indeed race to win. How good we really are is always difficult to predict, especially since WEC has BoP [Balance of Performance], which is also a new experience for me. Hopefully we can continue the success of the previous years.
