Helmut Marko has earned an excellent reputation as a talent scout for Red Bull over the last few decades. However, the Graz resident wasn’t exactly right in every decision. He now described a commitment from a former Formula 1 driver as his biggest mistake.
In an interview with the Italian motorsport magazine “Autosprint”, Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko described the signing of Dutchman Nyck de Vries for the 2023 Formula 1 season as his biggest misstep.
When asked the question, the man from Graz said: “My biggest mistake? That was without a doubt Nyck de Vries.”
The stopwatch speaks against de Vries
De Vries made a name for himself as a Williams replacement driver in the 2022 season and finished ninth in his only race in Monza, finishing straight into the points. Marko saw great potential in the Dutchman and subsequently signed him for Red Bull’s B-Team AlphaTauri.
“He did very well on his debut for Williams in Monza. But when he was at AlphaTauri he didn’t develop further. He had an incredible CV, was Formula 2 champion and Formula E champion, but with us “The stopwatch said that Nyck was the wrong choice,” explained Marko.
In fact, the 2023 Formula 1 season was a complete disaster for de Vries. The Dutchman didn’t score a single point in twelve race starts, but already recorded his best result with twelfth place in Monaco. After the race at Silverstone he was finally fired and replaced by Daniel Ricciardo.
From Formula 1 back to Formula E
In autumn 2023, Nyck de Vries continued his career in Formula E. He also started in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024.
The Dutchman’s cockpit at AlphaTauri remained hot even after his departure. Ricciardo didn’t last long behind the wheel either and was released in the 2024 Formula 1 season. He was followed by Liam Lawson, who will be promoted to the senior team in 2025. With Isack Hadjar, the former de Vires cockpit will be filled again this year with a talent from Red Bull’s own ranks.