Opinion
This Formula 1 silly season has truly been the silliest of seasons. The whole Oscar Piastri/Alpine drama, Daniel Ricciardo being booted out of his seat, and contracts being torn up left, right and centre.
The Japanese Grand Prix weekend was meant to be focusing on F1’s return to the iconic Suzuka track for the first time since 2019, but no, we get Pierre Gasley confirmed at Alpine, and Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries finally getting an F1 seat, 3 years after winning the Formula 2 championship.
De Vries has been rumoured to be moving to the grid since taking over three separate teams’ cars for FP1 sessions throughout the year, with Mercedes, Williams and Aston Martin.
But the rumours really ramped up when the Dutchman took over the Williams of Alex Albon at the Italian Grand Prix after Albon was hit with appendicitis before qualifying at Monza.
P9 and driver of the day, completely outshining now ousted Nicholas Latifi, and the question no longer was if de Vries would get a seat, but with who.
He obviously has the credentials to be in the pinnacle of motorsport. 2019 Formula 2 champion, plenty of experience in sports cars and endurance racing, and most importantly becoming the first ever Formula E World Champion in 2021. The latter is what makes him such an exciting prospect in Formula 1.
In Formula E, de Vries is not universally liked. ROCKiT Venturi driver Lucas di Grassi has been very vocal on how he dislikes de Vries’ moves under breaking, calling it dangerous.
(Photo by Clive Mason – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Di Grassi also refers to him as a chihuahua. Avalanche Andretti pair Oliver Askew and Jake Dennis also agreed in an end of season video that de Vries is known for the double defensive move, which is not allowed and also very dangerous.
A lot of the Formula E grid won’t be sad to see him go. But that sort of aggressive, passionate driving is loved in Formula 1.
Current World Champion and fellow Dutchman Max Verstappen is known for his aggressive driving, and although it got him into trouble at the beginning of his career with careless shunts, its what makes him a must-watch talent. Kevin Magnussen, to a lesser extent, also loves to go for moves that may or may not be on, which has resulted in a lot of black and orange flags for him over the 2022 season.
There is no doubt de Vries has earned his place in Formula 1 next season, and time will only tell if his aggressiveness wins him universal praise or disdain from his fellow drivers.
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