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Verstappen backs 'incredible' de Vries to 'find his feet again'

Max Verstappen says Nyck de Vries' ousting from AlphaTauri isn't the end of the road for his countryman whom he expects to bounce back in another category in the near future.

De Vries was axed by Red Bull after just ten races and replaced by F1 returnee Daniel Ricciardo.

Although the 28-year-old Dutchman consistently underperformed relative to his AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda, many believe de Vries should have been given more time to prove his worth.

"I'm good friends with Nyck, so it's also sad to see him go, but unfortunately that's also how this world works," Verstappen told the media in Hungary on Thursday.

Read also: De Vries sacking reflective of 'how Red Bull works' – Hamilton

"I think we all know that Nyck is an incredible driver. He's shown that in every single category. This new generation of cars, when you're a rookie, doesn't matter what age you are, they are quite difficult to get on top of.

"That [AlphaTauri] car probably is not the most competitive, so it all made it a bit harder.

"Then you just sometimes need these one or two moments where you shine, where you maybe get a point or two, and these kinds of moments didn't happen, and the team wanted to change something.

"That's also a part of Formula 1, it's sometimes just the wrong time or the wrong moment when you're there and it doesn't work out for you."

De Vries' credentials include winning the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2019 and the FIA Formula E World Championship with Mercedes in 2021.

Verstappen believes that his good friend is unlikely to remain unemployed for long.

"People sometimes seem to [think] if it doesn't work out in F1, everything is lost, but it's not," added the two-time F1 world champion.

"There are so many great categories where you can have a great career and probably even more fun than Formula 1, so I know he has a lot of opportunities.

"I spoke to him last week, we saw each other, and he will definitely find his feet again with a great team somewhere and a great championship.

"So I don't think it actually is the end of the world because there's so many great races that you can be part of."

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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.