Second training for De Vries this season
Dutch driver Nyck de Vries will compete in Formula 1 in France this weekend. De Vries takes the place of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in the first free practice at Circuit Paul Ricard.
For the second time this season, Nyck de Vries can start in Formula 1. The Formula 2 champion of 2019 and Formula E world champion of 2021 drives the first free practice in France for Mercedes, in the car of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton . The first free practice on the circuit near Le Castellet in southern France starts on Friday at 2 pm. The substitution takes place because the Formula 1 teams have to put a ‘young driver’ into action twice this year during a race weekend. De Vries already played for Williams earlier this year. During the race weekend in Spain, he took over the seat from Alexander Albon for the first free practice session in Barcelona.
De Vries is Mercedes’ reserve driver and won the world championship in Formula E with Mercedes last year. For the 27-year-old it is a great opportunity to prove himself once again in Formula 1 and possibly his chance of a seat in the top class of the to increase racing. De Vries is being tipped as a possible replacement for Williams driver Nicholas Latifi by 2022. However, Williams is also looking at young up-and-coming talent, with Australian Alpine reservist Oscar Piastri as the top favorite for the seat next to Albon. At 27, De Vries is perhaps too old to be of interest to Williams and even Mercedes, should Hamilton unexpectedly end his career.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl