De Vries still uncertain about his 2022 direction

Jon Wilde
Nyck de Vries arrives for the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. Zandvoort September 2021.

Nyck de Vries in a Mercedes jacket arrives for the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. Zandvoort September 2021.

Nyck de Vries has admitted he has no idea yet what 2022 holds for him – after looking set for a Formula 1 seat at one stage.

The Dutchman won Formula 2 in 2019 and can now count himself as a World Champion, having secured the Drivers’ crown in the latest series of Formula E along with the Teams’ title for Mercedes.

His affiliation with Mercedes looked to have given him a chance of forcing his way onto the F1 grid for 2022 at Williams, one of the German manufacturer’s customer teams, but that option disappeared when they plumped for Alex Albon instead.

Alfa Romeo was another potential option for which De Vries was even looking favourite to join incoming Valtteri Bottas at one stage. But that is now looking much less likely as it has been reported Ferrari, who supply the team’s engines, would not be in favour due to his connection with Mercedes.

Therefore, it leaves the 26-year-old wondering in which direction he will be heading, although De Vries’ race-winning experience in endurance racing is another potential avenue.

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Nyck de Vries is interviewed in a Formula E press conference
Mercedes F1 reserve driver Nyck de Vries answers questions ahead of the Formula E season finale in Berlin.

“First of all, I am very flattered and honoured that my name is linked to a couple of Formula 1 teams and that my name has been in the air quite a lot recently,” said De Vries during the latest edition of The Race’s Formula E podcast.

“I am also honoured by the words especially Toto [Wolff] has said about me, but ultimately I am very well aware that in this world things change very quickly.

“I’m a very realistic person and I always focus on what’s the duty of today and that’s really where my focus is.

“So what the future brings, I don’t know. Things change quickly anyway and in order to earn my opportunities and open up doors going forward in my career, I will have to continue to deliver and perform in every race and weekend I do.

“That’s where my focus and passion is actually and all the rumours, that’s the media and I have nothing to tell you. Time will tell.”

 

Wolff, Mercedes’ head of motorsport, has said he would like to keep De Vries for his company’s last shot at Formula E before they withdraw from that series.

The driver himself, meanwhile, has previously stated Formula 1 is not the be-all-and-end-all to him, saying: “Getting to Formula 1 alone wouldn’t necessarily mean ‘career successful’ for me. Racing in all professional classes and competing for victories is what it’s all about.”