Nick de Vries took part in the AlphaTauri F1 private test and practice on the old machine for the 2023 season.
F2 and Formula E champion and Mercedes F1 reserve driver Nick de Vries, who has taken part in tests and numerous FP1s, has not been seriously considered as a candidate for a full-time F1 seat.
However, the situation changed completely in the Italian GP F1. When he joined Williams F1 as a replacement for Alexander Albon, who was suffering from appendicitis, he finished in ninth place despite the almost unsuccessful performance. He convinced Red Bull, who were looking for someone to replace Pierre Gasly at Scuderia AlphaTauri.
Scuderia AlphaTauri began a private test on January 24th (Tuesday) at the Imola circuit in Italy using the old machine, with Yuki Tsunoda driving on the first day. The following day, the 25th (Wednesday), Nick de Vries took the steering wheel of the F1 2021 machine “AT02” with his car number 21. Scuderia AlphaTauri posted a video of De Vries driving on the wet track.
Regarding teammate Yuki Tsunoda, Nick de Vries said: “If I remember correctly, we first met in 2020. Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri held a marketing event at the Red Bull Ring. I was also participating in the ELMS ( European Le Mans Series) ) at the Red Bull Ring on the same weekend, but just before the Monaco GP, so I decided to move to Monaco with Yuki. This was my first meeting with Yuki,” he recalls.
“We were on the same plane and spending time together in Monaco. As you all know, Yuki is a very fun person and we have kept in touch ever since.”
Scuderia AlphaTauri will unveil a new livery of the 2023 F1 machine “AT04” on February 11 in New York.
Behind the scenes, the AT04 chassis has already passed the mandatory FIA crash tests and preparations are underway for pre-season testing between February 23 and 25.
Category: F1 / Nick de Vries / Alpha Tauri
