Ousted F1 driver Nyck de Vries says the fairness or nor of Red Bull’s decision to drop him from AlphaTauri’s line-up last summer was “totally irrelevant” to him.
De Vries was offered a full-time drive for 2023 with AlphaTauri by Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko on the back of his remarkable one-off with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix in 2022.
As a former FIA Formula 2 and Formula E champion, the 28-year-old undeniably possessed the credentials to justify a full-time seat in F1, having also gained valuable experience and mileage as Mercedes development driver in F1, a role that included several FP1 outings in 2022.
But persistent struggles during the first part of the 2023 season and an inability to perform on a par with AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda eventually decided Red Bull’s top brass to cut short the Dutchman’s tenure in F1 and to replace him with Daniel Ricciardo.
Since, de Vries has redirected his expertise once again towards Formula E and also towards to WEC following his hiring by the works Toyota Hypercar squad.
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In an interview with the Dutch publication De Telegraaf, looking back on last summer’s events, de Vries revealed that he did not find it challenging to come to terms with his dismissal.
“I think I was able to put it into perspective very quickly,” he said.
“I’ve been hugely supported, altogether I think I’ve received about 4000 messages. That has done me good. I can sit in a corner and cry, but that won’t help anyone.
“Of course, it hurt. I don’t think that’s surprising. But everyone experiences good times and more difficult times. And yes, pain is also part of life.”
Given the weight of Red Bull’s immense pressure and the persistence of his struggles, the decision to axe him from the team did not come as a big surprise as far as de Vries was concerned.
It also didn’t matter for him whether Red Bull’s decision was just or not.
“I didn’t get a lot of it and tried to distance myself from it as much as possible,” he recalled.
“But, at the same time, I can’t say that the decision came as a total surprise. I am not naive. Whether it is fair or just is actually totally irrelevant to me.
“Nor do I hold any grudge at all towards Helmut Marko or Daniel Ricciardo or his temporary replacement Liam Lawson. That is part of the business. I am very grateful for the opportunity I have been given.”
De Vries acceptance and resilience in the face of his unceremonious exit are a testimony to the 28-year-old racer’s strong character.
It’s therefore unsurprising that he makes no excuses for his failure to fulfil the expectations bestowed upon him by Red Bull. And equally, he doesn’t dwell on regrets.
“I’m a perfectionist, so there are always situations and moments where in hindsight I think: I could have done that better,” he said.
“In the end, I think I wasn’t quite there, at that moment. It just wasn’t working. Formula 1 is something I dreamed of for so long and then it stops so soon. That is a huge disappointment.
“But it is part of life and also a bit part of the sport. That may sound very rational, but that’s how I really feel. I embrace the things that have come my way again now.”
Indeed, while de Vries expresses disappointment and acknowledges the missed opportunities, he maintains a positive outlook and emphasizes the importance of embracing new challenges beyond F1.
“When you grow up as a young driver, Formula 1 is your only goal,” he said. “The crown jewel of our sport. But I have learned and realised that there is more than that.
“Personally, I enjoyed Formula E and the WEC immensely, so I’m looking forward to that immensely now. Motorsport is more than Formula 1, although I understand that the general public might see it differently.”
As for the critics who piled on the rubble at the peak of his struggles, here also, de Vries refuses to devote any time or energy to things out of his control.
“I think that’s best too, because I have absolutely no control over that,” he said.
“It is very easy to criticise someone from the sofa or with the phone in your hand. I also don’t find it necessary to start judging my own performance now.
“For myself, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore. It happened like this, it is the way it is, and I will continue my career in other classes.
“I’m doing it for myself in the end, right? This is my career and I think motorsport is the most beautiful and fun thing there is. It’s my life, I’ll make it my own and sail my own course.”
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