It would be a big shock if Mercedes reserve driver Nyck de Vries fails to get a seat in 2023, following on from his unbelievable last-minute debut.
De Vries will forever remember the recent Italian Grand Prix, after he technically took part in the entire weekend for the first time in his career, albeit not for the same team.
The Dutchman drove for Aston Martin in FP1 at the ‘Temple of Speed’, before getting a call on Saturday prior to FP3 asking him to replace Alex Albon at Williams.
The Thai driver was diagnosed with appendicitis, which ruled him out of the remainder of the weekend.
READ: ‘Usually more Lewis’: Max Verstappen’s brilliant reaction to Sergio Perez revelation
The season seven Formula E World Champion jumped at the opportunity and performed better than anyone could’ve predicted.
He made an absolute mockery of team-mate Nicholas Latifi, after not only making it to Q2 on his debut, but then going on to match the team’s best result of the season so far.
De Vries’ ninth place finish matched Albon’s best result of the year, which embarrassingly dropped Latifi to P21 in the Drivers’ Championship.
The Mercedes reserve has certainly put himself on the radar of a number of teams with a seat available, including, Williams, Alpine, and AlphaTauri.
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack thinks the Dutchman was on a number of teams list before his debut; however, Krack did point out that De Vries has “put his cards on the table”.
Nyck was always on the list of potential drivers,” said Krack
“He put his cards on the table for the teams that have no driver yet.”
Since Monza, it’s been confirmed that De Vries will test for Alpine at the Hungaroring next week and that he’s also flown to Austria to have a meeting with Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko, over a potential move to AlphaTauri.
The 27-year-old is, of course, also high on Williams’ list of potential drivers to replace Latifi, who is all but certain to get the boot.
Krack was full of praise for the driver who replaced Sebastian Vettel in FP1 at Monza, hailing him for doing a “good job”.
“I have to say hats off to how he handled the situation,” Krack continued.
“Jumping in the car [Williams], I think he was in the paddock club or wherever from what I heard, but to jump in the car, a car you know, but how well do you know it?
READ: Christian Horner admits Porsche deal would have eradicated ‘clear risk’
“Where others had had a lot of practice already and taking over from Alex, he did well.
“Obviously, the car was suited to the track. We knew the Williams was going to be strong but you have to deliver.
“The start lap, it is tight and it is very physical compared to Formula E, for example, I think he did a very good job.”