Former F1 driver Nyck de Vries set to compete in Super Formula
Former Formula One driver Nyck de Vries will make a surprise Super Formula debut at the Motegi circuit later this month as he is set to compete in two rounds of the remaining three race weekends of the Japanese single-seater series.
Having impressed during his suprise appearance at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix where he stepped in to replace Alexander Albon at Williams, de Vries was handed a full-time drive at AlphaTauri last year.
However, the Dutchman endured a tough start to the season, and Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko elected to part ways with the former Formula 2 and Formula E champion.
The Dutchman rebounded in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo, and he also returned to Formula E with the Indian outfit, Mahindra.
It has now emerged that de Vries will race in Japan, competing in two rounds of the Japanese Super Formula series starting at Motegi on August 23-25 before racing in the Fuji double-header on October 11-13. He will then leave the series to return to Formula E and his testing duties with Mahindra Racing.
Reflecting on his time in Formula One for Dutch publication De Telegraaf, de Vries said that the support he received helped him get over his sudden exit from the pinnacle of motorsport.
“I think I was able to put it into perspective very quickly. I’ve been hugely supported, altogether I think I’ve received about 4000 messages. That has done me good. I can sit in a corner and cry, but that won’t help anyone.
“Of course, it hurt. I don’t think that’s surprising. But everyone experiences good times and more difficult times. And yes, pain is also part of life. I didn’t get a lot of it and tried to distance myself from it as much as possible.
“But, at the same time, I can’t say that the decision came as a total surprise. I am not naive. Whether it is fair or just is actually totally irrelevant to me.
“Nor do I hold any grudge at all towards Helmut Marko or Daniel Ricciardo or his temporary replacement Liam Lawson. That is part of the business. I am very grateful for the opportunity I have been given.”
