Nick de Vries gave an interview with the team after joining Scuderia AlphaTauri.
Nick de Vries, who has a brilliant career as FIA-F2 and Formula E champion, once again showed his ability to the F1 paddock by subscribing to Williams F1 at last year’s F1 Italian GP, and the 2023 Scuderia I got an Alpha Tauri F1 seat.
In an interview, Nick de Vries looks back on his career from when he started motorsport to signing with Scuderia AlphaTauri, his relationship with fellow countryman Max Verstappen, and new teammate Yuki Tsunoda. talked about
How did you get started in motorsports?
It was the influence of his family that got him into motorsport. His father used to own a car dealership and had a little bit of racing. Automobiles are in the de Vries family DNA, his grandfather started the dealership and his father took over. So my dad sold the business to put all his time and effort into my racing career. Success in motorsport was my dream and it was my father’s dream as well.
Who did you first report to when you decided to enter F1 as a Scuderia AlphaTauri driver for the 2023 season?
The process of getting the deal was so complicated that there was no clear moment, but Pierre was the first person I spoke to after signing the contract! When I was at the gym, Pierre called me on FaceTime to congratulate me, which was really nice. Of course, my family was present all the way until the contract was signed, and after the talks got into full swing, I consulted with my father about everything.
Why did you live in Italy for so long when you were in karting?
Since there are many kart manufacturers in Italy, most of the kart scene is concentrated in Italy. So when I started participating in international kart racing, I naturally spent more time in Italy. Therefore, the family decided to move to Italy, as it would be more convenient to move between races. He also helped me improve my Italian. In fact, I took five days of a business-level Italian course where I was not allowed to speak anything but Italian in the classroom, so I learned quite a bit before moving to Italy with my family. My Italian is not yet fluent, but joining Scuderia AlphaTauri has helped me improve.
What have been the highlights of your racing career so far?
It’s already been a long road and there have been many ups and downs. If I had to highlight one of them, it would be the F2 title win. Formula 2 was the championship I had been aiming for for most of my career up until that point. I grew up dreaming of reaching F1, but F2 was the last step, so it was important to win this title.
You have already won the Formula E world championship in the 2020-2021 season, is there any pressure to enter F1 with this title?
I’m not the type to look back too much. Of course, Formula E World Champion is part of the road to F1, but I always want to look to the future. I am grateful for what I have achieved so far, but at the same time I have new challenges ahead of me and I am very much looking forward to racing in Formula 1.
Which circuit are you most looking forward to on the 2023 F1 calendar?
Zandvoort, of course. Every driver’s goal is to race on their home circuit, but the Dutch Grand Prix has a festival and party vibe, so driving at Zandvoort in front of your home fans will give you goosebumps. The atmosphere in Zandvoort is intense and I can’t wait to experience it as a Dutch F1 driver.
I’m sure you already know Yuki well, but when did you first meet him?
If I remember correctly, the first time we met was in 2020. Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri are holding a marketing event at the Red Bull Ring, and I was also participating in the ELMS (European Le Mans Series) at the Red Bull Ring on the same weekend, but the Monaco GP. Since it was just before, I decided to move to Monaco with Yuki. This was my first meeting with Yuki. We were on the same flight and spent time together in Monaco. As you all know, Yuki is a very fun person, and we’ve kept in touch since then.
You’ve known Max Verstappen since childhood. What is your relationship with Max like?
Max and I grew up in karting at the same time, and we’ve known each other since we were very young, but we’ve never actually raced in the same race. In fact, the 2022 season of Monza was the first time that Max and I raced in the same race. It just so happened that we were next to each other on the grid, so it was an incredible feeling. We have a good relationship, both of us have had a lot of success in kart racing in Europe with a lot of support from our fathers, so we have a very similar upbringing in the racing scene and we have a lot of respect for each other. Of course, both of us are from the Netherlands and speak the same language, so we just get along. As for age, I’m only older than him, and in the F1 paddock, Max feels like an older brother. Needless to say, he already has a lot of achievements and experience.
What are your hobbies outside of racing?
My life has been all about racing so far, but I started learning piano during lockdown. I didn’t know anything about his musical background, but it was fun for him to learn an instrument and take advantage of the lockdown period to try something different from racing. Now that the lockdown period is over, I enjoy more outdoor activities such as sports and spend more time with my family when possible.
What other sports are you interested in?
I have a lot of respect for Dutch speed skaters. Speed skating is the most successful Dutch sport at the Winter Olympics, and the athletes train about 10km from my house. I come from the north of Holland, so speedskating is deeply rooted in my hometown. My hometown is particularly popular, and since I was a child, I was involved in speed skating. I respect the attitude of the players towards the sport and am very impressed with the time they put into it and the passion they have for their work. Also, I love soccer.
What football club do you support?
Supports local team SC Heerenveen. Actually, my helmet design is also related to this club. The design, which combines blue and white with a heart, is the state coat of arms of the local state of Friesland, and is incorporated into the club’s uniform. I’ve had it on my helmet for a long time.
Speaking of sports, how are you preparing for the upcoming season?
Having only raced once in a Formula 1 car last season, I knew how tough it was, both mentally and physically, so I focused on getting in the best shape possible over the winter. With new performance coach Puryu, he attended a training camp in Dubai to prepare for the 2023 season. I really enjoy living and training as a full-fledged athlete and putting all my time and effort into preparing for this year.
Category: F1 / Nick de Vries / Alpha Tauri