Formula E champion Nyck de Vries joins F1 grid with AlphaTauri
After weeks of speculation Formula E 2021 champion Nyck de Vries will join the Formula 1 grid next season having signed with AlphaTauri.
A Mercedes-backed driver De Vries has been on the fringes of Formula 1 for the past few years as the team’s test and reserve driver.
That link saw him handed his big break at the Italian Grand Prix when he was called up by Williams to replace Alex Albon.
He has been recalled to stand in for Albon who is undergoing treatment for appendicitis in hospital.
The Dutchman not only out-qualified his team-mate Nicholas Latifi but scored points, only Williams’ fourth top-ten of the season.
His performances caught the attention of the paddock, but with only a few seats remaining, De Vries himself admitted it wasn’t looking too good until Dr Helmut Marko stepped in and turned to De Vries as an alternate for Pierre Gasly with the Frenchman keen to join Alpine.
After weeks of talks De Vries’ deal was confirmed on Saturday morning in Suzuka – just moments after Alpine confirmed Gasly.
2023 @f1 driver, sounds pretty nice doesn’t it @nyckdevries? 🤙 pic.twitter.com/qOtDs4A9GI
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) October 8, 2022
“I’m extremely excited to be joining Scuderia AlphaTauri for 2023,” said de Vries, “and I want to thank both Red Bull and the team for giving me the opportunity to drive in F1.
“After F2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it.
“I’ve had a lot of chances to experience the 2022 car this year and I think that has put me in a great position for the upcoming season, I hope this has helped to prepare me for what is to come.
“Having spent most of my teenage years in Italy for karting, I’ve always felt at home there, so for me it’s great to be joining an Italian team, that already has a real family feel, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and to start to build our relationship before the next season.”
Team boss Franz Tost has welcomed the 27-year-old’s signing, a move away from the norm for AlphaTauri who usually field Red Bull’s next generation of junior drivers.
“We are pleased to start a new chapter with Nyck, who’s very much welcome at Scuderia AlphaTauri,” said Tost.
“He is a very high skilled driver, as he won in all the categories he competed in, with many races and championships under his belt.
“His last big success was winning the Formula E World Championship, and this is clear evidence that he is a very competitive driver, who deserves a seat in F1.
“I am looking forward to seeing him in our car and I’m confident that with Yuki and Nyck we will have a very strong driver line up for 2023.”
De Vries will race alongside Yuki Tsunoda at the AlphaTauri Formula 1 team in 2023.
