Nyck de Vries is fulfilling a striking role in Formula 1 this weekend. The Dutchman is present during the Australian Grand Prix as a reserve driver for McLaren. Earlier this week, he was still in Bahrain for a planned Pirelli test. However, that did not go ahead due to the outbreak of war in the Middle East. From the Gulf state, he traveled directly to the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.
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Nyck de Vries appeared in McLaren’s papaya colors in Melbourne on Thursday. The British racing team has already confirmed to several media outlets that De Vries is fulfilling the role of reserve driver this weekend. Should anything happen to Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, the Dutchman will step into the MCL40. However, it does not seem to be a permanent role. The Formula 1 calendar regularly clashes with those of both Formula E and the World Endurance Championship, in which De Vries is still active.
McLaren’s regular reserve drivers – IndyCar driver Patricio O’Ward and Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli – are not present at the circuit this weekend. Therefore, De Vries has been flown in to take on that role. Furthermore, Fornaroli can only officially call himself a reserve driver at the end of March, as he first has to complete a test with an older McLaren car.
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De Vries drove half a season in Formula 1 for AlphaTauri, now Racing Bulls, in 2023. The driver got this opportunity after impressing during the 2022 Monza Grand Prix. He filled in for Williams driver Alexander Albon, who was in the hospital due to acute appendicitis. De Vries finished ninth in the race then. However, the results at AlphaTauri were disappointing, after which he was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo after ten races. The Dutchman was regularly mentioned as a possible test, sim, or reserve driver.
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