Nyck de Vries was let go from his contract at Scuderia Alpha Tauri just 10 races into the 2023 Formula 1 season.
On the 11th of July, in an announcement that sent shockwaves around the world of motorsport, De Telegraaf reported that Frisian Formula 1 driver, Nyck de Vries, had been released.
It is no secret that the Uitwellingerga-born driver struggled in his maiden campaign at the pinnacle of racing. His best finish was 12th place at the Monaco Grand Prix, and he currently sits dead last in the championship with 0 points.
Couple that with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda impressing throughout the season, and the exciting Daniel Ricciardo waiting in the wings, it seemed only a matter of time before De Vries was let go.
Despite his tumultuous season, many fans have come to the 28-year-old driver’s defense, believing the decision to be harsh with not even half of the races completed yet. In fact, this is the first time since 2017 that a driver has been completely removed from the sport in the middle of the season.
With the now-former Formula 1 driver back in the free-agent market, what could (or should) De Vries’ next career move be?
Go back to a reserve driver role
No driver ever wants to sit on the sidelines, and one of the worst things that can happen is being pushed into a reserve driver role: not only do you not get to race barring an extreme circumstance but you are constantly in the shadows of those who do compete.
But perhaps that is exactly what De Vries needs. It’s also a role he is already comfortable with, after being Mercedes’ reserve driver during the 2022 season. During his time there, he was highly praised by Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff for his work ethic and commitment to the team. The two were recently spotted in Monaco following the news of De Vries’ firing, so it seems that a return to a reserve driver role is not completely out of the question.
Return to Formula E
Prior to becoming a reserve driver in Formula 1, De Vries was a world champion in Formula E, the highest level of single-seater racing with electric cars. De Vries ended the 2021 season as its champion on the final race.
De Vries would not only return to a competition he is comfortable with, but he would bring more fan support with him thanks to his short-lived stint in Formula 1. As Formula E continues to grow as a sport, perhaps going back to the place that gave him his breakthrough is the best thing for the Frisian driver.
Follow the ‘American Dream’
Perhaps the biggest competitor to Formula 1 is IndyCar Series. Essentially the American version of Formula 1, IndyCar has seen a tremendous increase in support and fandom thanks to the thrilling races they host throughout major cities in the USA and Canada.
It has also become a place for former Formula 1 drivers to find a home. The 2023 season alone contains four former Formula 1 drivers competing in IndyCar. De Vries could easily become the fifth next year.
Perhaps a move away from the spotlight that is Formula 1 will benefit De Vries, and he is certainly a proven commodity for any team to take a punt on him. He’d bring in high-quality experience along with his name as IndyCar continues to try to push itself into the Formula 1 stratosphere.
The Nyck de Vries story so far
De Vries began his venture into motorsports by winning multiple go-karting tournaments as a teenager. His success there would lead him to single-seater racing throughout various regional tournaments in Europe, impressing with each step he took.
De Vries is now a Formula 2 and Formula E world champion who finally got his break last season with a stupendous last-minute appearance during the Italian Grand Prix for Williams Racing. That prompted many Formula 1 teams to take a serious look at the Frisian driver and he eventually wound up at Alpha Tauri.
The North loses their star driver
Although many Dutch racing fans will barely skip a beat as Dutchman Max Verstappen is cruising towards his third consecutive Formula 1 world title, fans from Friesland will have to wait and see where their prized driver will go next.
De Vries was born in the small village of Uitwellingerga in Friesland, close to Sneek. With a population of around 425 people as of 2021, the fact that De Vries has gone on to represent the village at the highest level of motorsport is certainly something to be proud of.
Judging by the experience and support De Vries has received, it won’t be long before Uitwellingerga, and Friesland, is represented on a high-level racing track once again.
