In a shocking turn of events, Nyck de Vries was unceremoniously sacked from AlphaTauri mid-season, with Daniel Ricciardo making his return to the grid at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix.
Red Bull stated that the decision to part ways with de Vries was due to his lack of progress over ten races with the team.
However, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, believes that the Dutchman’s departure is just “how Red Bull works.”
Having previously worked with de Vries during his tenure as a development driver at Brackley, Hamilton expressed his surprise at Red Bull’s decision.
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“I was definitely surprised to see the decision they took with poor Nyck,” he remarked.
“He’s such a talented young man and such a nice guy as well, so I think his future is still bright for him and he’ll have lots of great options, I’m sure.”
Despite acknowledging Red Bull’s management style, Hamilton considered the timing of de Vries’ sacking as unfair.
The abrupt change in driver lineup raised questions about the team’s approach to nurturing talent and providing adequate opportunities for growth.
“I’d say that’s how Red Bull works,” Hamilton stated when asked if he believed the decision was unjust.
This remark highlights a common perception of Red Bull’s swift and often ruthless actions when it comes to their driver lineup.
On the other hand, Hamilton was less surprised by the return of experienced driver Daniel Ricciardo to the Formula 1 grid.
Ricciardo, who had been serving as a reserve driver, attended every drivers’ briefing throughout the season, despite not actively competing in the races.
“Not really, because he has been in every drivers’ briefing this year,” Hamilton explained.
“He’s in the drivers’ briefing but not actually competing.
“That’s very rare; you don’t often see the reserve driver in the drivers’ briefings.
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“But I’m not surprised to see him back.”
The sudden change in AlphaTauri’s driver lineup will undoubtedly impact the team’s dynamics and performance for the remainder of the season.
Fans and pundits alike will be closely watching to see how Ricciardo adapts to his new role and whether the decision to let go of de Vries was justified.