De Vries handed full-time drive with AlphaTauri for 2023
Nyck de Vries will join the Red Bull family in 2023, the talented Dutchman replacing Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly...
The post De Vries handed full-time drive with AlphaTauri for 2023 appeared first on F1i.com.
Nyck de Vries will join the Red Bull family in 2023, the talented Dutchman replacing Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly at AlphaTauri where he will race alongside incumbent Yuki Tsunoda.
De Vries - a Mercedes reserve driver who won the Formula E world championship with the German manufacturer last year - gets his big F1 break at 27 and in large part thanks to his outstanding F1 debut with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza where he replaced an ill Alex Albon and finished a remarkable ninth.
"I’m extremely excited to be joining Scuderia AlphaTauri for 202," said de Vries, "and I want to thank both Red Bull and the team for giving me the opportunity to drive in F1.
"After Formula 2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it.
"I’ve had a lot of chances to experience the 2022 car this year and I think that has put me in a great position for the upcoming season, I hope this has helped to prepare me for what is to come.
"Having spent most of my teenage years in Italy for karting, I’ve always felt at home there, so for me it’s great to be joining an Italian team, that already has a real family feel, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and to start to build our relationship before the next season."
AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost praised Pierre Gasly for his contribution to the Faenza-based outfit's track record that includes the Frenchman's sensational win at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.
But Tost also emphasized de Vries' underlying talent and the merit he showed in deserving a full-time seat in F1.
"Scuderia AlphaTauri had a very successful time with Pierre. We will never forget his fantastic victory in Monza and his podium finishes in Brazil and Azerbaijan," said the Austrian.
"I want to thank Pierre for all the effort he’s put into the team in the last years, and I wish him all the best for his future.
"Now, we are pleased to start a new chapter with Nyck, who’s very much welcome at Scuderia AlphaTauri.
"He is a very high skilled driver, as he won in all the categories he competed in, with many races and championships under his belt.
"His last big success was winning the Formula E World Championship, and this is clear evidence that he is a very competitive driver, who deserves a seat in F1.
"I am looking forward to seeing him in our car and I’m confident that with Yuki and Nyck we will have a very strong driver line up for 2023."
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