Max Verstappen played a role in the definitive arrival of Nyck de Vries to Formula 1. The reigning world champion urged his compatriot to call Red Bull CEO Helmut Marko on the day after the Italian Grand Prix, in which De Vries replaced him. of the ailing Alexander Albon finished ninth in the Williams car. The result was a contract with AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s sister team.
Marko was also the man who gave Verstappen a contract with Toro Rosso at the age of 16. “He is the man who dares to give a seat to a driver he sees something in,” said Verstappen in the press conference after qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix. “With other teams they are much more careful. Nyck is a good friend, we had dinner at Monza after the race and then I told him to call Helmut. You never know and now is the right time, because the Monday after During the race he is usually still excited about what he saw on Sunday,” said Verstappen.
De Vries was more than ever in the picture this year in Formula 1. He drove free practice sessions for Mercedes, Williams and Aston Martin. Williams was very fond of the Frisian driver and offered him a contract, but Red Bull, which also deals with the occupation of AlphaTauri, acted faster. Marko was able to offer De Vries a seat because the intended candidate, American Colton Herta, does not have the required license to race in Formula 1.
“Nyck has worked long and hard for it and I think it’s fantastic that he finally gets the chance in Formula 1. After Monza, I don’t think there was any more discussion about whether he would get the seat,” said the Limburger, who was in charge on Sunday. become world champion for the second time in a row.