Mercedes boss Toto Wolff wants to tie Nyck de Vries to the brand if he secures a Formula 1 place elsewhere.
The Dutchman started with the Mercedes team in Formula E, won the drivers’ title for the first time in 2021, but could now be on the way to Formula 1.
Mercedes’ F1 reserve driver, de Vries, has also been linked to Williams and Alfa Romeo for 2022.
But if de Vries were to get into Formula 1, Wolff would like to keep that Mercedes connection intact.
The Austrian made it clear that he would not stand in de Vries’ way if a way into Formula 1 should open up, although he values de Vries as an “extremely important member” of the Mercedes FE team.
“I admired his decision back then after winning the F2 title: ‘I want to be part of a works team, and that’s why I’m going to Mercedes in Formula E instead of chasing after the dream in Formula 1. ‘”Wolff told reporters before the Dutch Grand Prix.
“And now the time has come for people to recognize his talent and ability, so conversations are taking place.
“But the most important thing for us is that it stays in the family. I don’t really want to lose him for another Formula E championship now, but I wouldn’t block him for Formula 1. “
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For de Vries, Formula 1 could be the more practicable option in the long term, as Mercedes will pull the plug for its Formula E operation at the end of next season.
But Wolff wants to have de Vries on board with another campaign while Mercedes is in full swing.
The Formula 1 driver market for 2022 is highly unpredictable, however, and Wolff identifies Alex Albon as “the main protagonist in the moving chairs”.
Red Bull are looking to secure a seat for their reserve driver for 2022, and that has a direct impact on where de Vries could end up.
And so Mercedes is in regular contact with Albon and asks Red Bull to release him from their program if the talks with Williams are to move forward.
“Nyck has a guaranteed seat in Formula E with us,” added Wolff.
“As I said, I would like him to be in Formula 1, but I don’t want to lose him for our Formula E campaign.”
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