2023 rookie Nyck de Vries has been likened to 2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, with the Dutchman’s former karting coaching having admitted that the AlphaTauri star’s “driving style” is “very similar” to the German.
De Vries is, of course, preparing to make his full debut in 2023, with the Dutch driver having made his rookie appearance at the Italian Grand Prix last year, after replacing Alex Albon.
Albon was replaced by the former Mercedes reserve driver from FP3 onwards, after being diagnosed with appendicitis.
De Vries’ performed incredibly at late notice and matched the team’s best result of the season, after finishing ninth.
READ: Pierre Gasly annihilated by Cheetah in Miami
It was his performance at Monza that caught the attention of the Red Bull family, with De Vries having met with Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko shortly after his sensational appearance.
AlphaTauri will be hoping that the two-time karting World Champion can continue to impress throughout his full rookie season, with his ex-karting coach Dino Chiesa having hailed him as “very impressive”.
“Nyck’s driving style is very similar to Nico Rosberg’s. They are calculating and weigh their chances in the car,” Chiesa told Formule1.nl.
“Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both have something deadly effective and always put their car next to it when the opportunity arises. Nyck has less of that, but Nyck still picked up more points in his first season [in karting] than [Pierre] Gasly, for whom it was already his second year. Very impressive!”
Chiesa went on to discuss De Vries’ personality and impeccable attitude to racing, with the Dutchman having supposedly taken incredible care of his karting overalls growing up.
Should he still take similar care of his clothing, then Chiesa expects De Vries’ motorhome to “look spick and span”.
READ: James Vowles accused of taking ‘good engineers’ to Williams
“His karting overalls and other clothes had then become completely dirty from the dust and sand from the karting track, but before Nyck packed his bags to go back home, he would first clean everything and sort the worn clothes colour by colour,” Chiesa explained.
“Imagine buying new clothes and it being neatly folded, this is what the contents of De Vries’ bag look like after a week of racing.
“I’m sure his side of AlphaTauri’s motorhome will look spick and span next season.”