Nick de Vries has gained almost every little thing there’s to win in junior motorsport. Nevertheless, there have been moments when the Dutchman doubted the success of his nice profession.
(*1*)
On March 5, Dutchman Nick de Vries will begin his first full season as a daily Formula 1 driver on the age of 28. An excellent efficiency as Alex Albon’s alternative at Monza (the Thai-British needed to have his appendix eliminated), a ninth place end on the Italian Grand Prix, opened all of the doorways for de Vries. Red Bull struck and introduced it to AlfaTauri.
But de Vries admits: “There had been occasions once I gave up.” Nick has gained almost every little thing in junior classes – two-time Kart World Champion, Formula 2 Champion 2019, Formula E Champion 2020/2021. But with the soar to Formula 1, it simply did not work out.
“I needed to wait a very long time for my probability,” de Vries says on the AlphaTauri podcast. “Specifically, I grew up with a variety of top quality pilots a very long time in the past. I really feel that I belong to this technology and that I’m in the precise place.”
During the karting days, Vries was additionally a junior driver for the McLaren crew. “Everything appeared tremendous on the time. Lewis Hamilton joined McLaren as a younger driver and instantly made a reputation for himself. Interest in younger drivers has elevated. But by way of my profession, every little thing has stalled a bit.”
“The first years in motorsport had been tough. I grew to become a bodybuilder,” de Vries admits. “When I used to be 17, I had the physique of a 14-year-old, possibly the expectations had been too excessive after the karting titles. Anyway, it took me some time to get used to it, particularly with Formula Renault.
In 2016, de Vries labored up to GP3 (similar to at this time’s Formula 3), a sure Charles Leclerc grew to become the champion, a sure Alex Albon completed second within the championship, de Vries sixth. “Then I misplaced help at McLaren after the administration change. Financially, I used to be virtually in a dry place and did not know what to do.”
“I did the DTM check with Audi and the GTE check with Ferrari. I critically thought of giving up my dream of Formula 1.”
The savior was Ricardo Gelael, father of Formula 2 driver Sean Gelael. Nick: “He gave me the cockpit of the Rapax crew, from there it went to Prema, and eventually my profession took off once more.”
De Vries was fourth general in F2 in 2018 behind future Formula 1 drivers George Russell, Lando Norris and Alex Albon, a yr later he grew to become Formula 2 champion, now ART.
Nick signed with Mercedes for Formula E, examined in Formula 1 and re-entered the dialog. When Williams wanted to rapidly exchange Albon at Monza, Mercedes supplied the versatile Dutchman. Nick de Vries has lastly arrived.
Formula 1 2023
displays
February 3: Red Bull Racing in New York
February 6: Williams Online
February 7: Alfa Romeo in Zurich
February 11: AlphaTauri in New York
February 13: McLaren at Woking
February 13: Aston Martin at Silverstone
February 14: Ferrari at Maranello
February 15: Mercedes at Silverstone
February 16: Alpine in London
winter check
February 23-25: Bahrain International Circuit
Formula 1 World Championship calendar
05.03. Bahrain GP, Bahrain International Circuit, Sahir
19.03 Saudi Arabian GP, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah
02.04. Australian GP, Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne
04/30 Azerbaijan GP, Baku City Circle, Baku *
07.05. Miami GP, Miami International Speedway, Miami
21.05 Emilia Romagna GP, Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari, Imola
28.05 Monaco GP, Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
04.06. Spanish GP, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalonia, Montmelo
18.06 The Canadian Doctor, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
02.07. Austrian GP, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg *
09.07. British GP, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone
23.07. Hungarian GP, Hungary, Budapest
07/30 Belgian GP, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa*
27.08 Netherlands GP, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort
03.09. Italian GP, Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza
17.09 Singapore GP, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
24.09 Japan GP, Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka
08.10. Qatar GP, Losail International Circuit, Doha *
22.10. Austin GP, Circuit of the Americas, Austin *
29.10. Mexican GP, Autodromo Herman Rodriguez, Mexico City
05.11. Brazilian GP, Autodromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos *
18.11. Las Vegas GP, Las Vegas Street Circuit, Las Vegas
26.11 Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
* Sprint format