De Vries signs up business manager for F1 career

For the first time in his motorsport career, Nyck de Vries has entrusted his affairs to a business manager, the AlphaTauri F1 rookie signing up Frenchman Guillaume Le Goff to look after his affairs.

Le Goff is no stranger to the F1 paddock as the former ART Grand Prix engineer's company - named The Grid - also handles the interests of Pierre Gasly, the man de Vries is replacing at AlphaTauri.

But de Vries is also well acquainted with Le Goff, having worked alongside the latter during his Formula Renault days.

"When Pierre [Gasly] and I were teammates in Formula Renault 2.0, Guillaume, who was an engineer at ART, was responsible for the AOTech simulator," de Vries told the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com.

"We spent a lot of time together during that period, because we were developing that simulator together."

Thereafter, the two men remained in close contact when de Vries joined McLaren's young driver programme.

"Guillaume moved to England to work at McLaren’s automotive branch," said AlphaTauri charger. "So we ran into each other a lot there. Whenever I was there, we would meet and catch up."

Read also: De Vries selects race number on FIA 2023 entry list

De Vries admitted that having a manager would lighten the inevitable burden that comes with a Grand Prix driver's responsibilities and off-track activities. And Le Goff's profile fits the bill according to the Dutchman.

"I was just looking for someone I trust and know well," he said.

"In addition, I did not want management that is very outspoken and visible. For me, the relationship between the team and myself is very important.

"Guillaume will therefore not sit in between. But he will relieve me of all kinds of things that play in the background.

"If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last two or three weeks, it’s that you suddenly have a lot of friends, people you’ve never really heard of before.

"Everyone offers you all sorts of things, everyone wants to be involved in the story."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.