Reigning Mercedes Formula E champion Nyck de Vries didn’t make it onto the F1 grid in 2022, but he hasn’t given up on that dream.
When the silly Formula 1 season began, de Vries, the 2020-21 Formula E driver champion, was tipped to either Williams or Alfa Romeo as a contender for the 2022 season.
Ultimately, Williams came closest to him, but the position was filled by Alex Albon.
For 2022 de Vries will stay in Formula E, last season of Mercedes in the series, and since he told SPEEDWEEK.com that his program for 2022 will be “pretty similar to this year’s” we can also expect that see him again in the World Endurance Championship as well as reserve and simulator driver for the Mercedes F1 team.
It is extremely difficult for any driver to force their way onto the Formula 1 starting grid, but de Vries is not actively pursuing that goal at the moment, but he really wants to achieve it.
© Provided by PlanetF1
Nyck de Vries at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. Yas Marina December 2021.
When asked by Speed Week whether Formula 1 would remain the goal, de Vries replied: “Every young driver dreams of this dream. I would be lying if I said that I no longer aspire to Formula 1 or that I give up my dream. But I no longer actively worked towards it.
“Next year is a new season, let’s see what happens. I’ll do my job as well as I can. “
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It would be understandable if de Vries were disappointed that Williams and Alfa Romeo ultimately overlooked him, but that’s not the case.
Instead, he was just proud to see his name in the conversation.
“First of all, I was pleased and very excited that my name was even mentioned among the candidates,” he said.
“It confirms how my potential is seen.
“So much changes so quickly. Much of what has happened is beyond my control; I can only contribute to what happens outside through my performance on the track.
“I am happy with what I can do at the moment and to drive for titles.”
De Vries told him that his schedule, alternating between F1 sim work, FE, and endurance racing seemed daunting, arguing that he needed a constant flow of racing activity to stay fit.
“We all grew up with racing, the driving itself is probably the least tweaking detail,” he said.
“The potential of the different cars is different, but the basics are always the same. It is the external circumstances that make the difference.
“An athlete who plays soccer or tennis trains every day. If I only drive Formula E, I have a six-month break. I need the continuous running to stay in shape. “
