Nyck de Vries’ stock has reached an all-time high, after his incredible rookie performance for Williams at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
De Vries sensationally drove for two teams across the weekend at Monza, with the Dutchman having featured for Aston Martin in FP1.
Saturday morning, he was suddenly called up to Williams, after Alex Albon was forced out of the weekend following an appendicitis diagnosis.
De Vries went well in FP3, before amazingly making it to Q2 in his first ever qualifying.
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The 2019 F2 World Champion qualified P13, whilst Williams regular Nicholas Latifi was knocked out unsurprisingly in Q1.
Due to a plethora of grid penalties, De Vries started from eighth, giving him an opportunity like no other to attempt a debut points finish.
To the pleasure of many, he achieved just that.
The season seven Formula E World Champion matched the team’s best result of the season in his very first race, after finishing ninth.
He completely out-performed Latifi, who finished well outside the points.
Many drivers congratulated De Vries on his breathtaking achievement, whilst Williams team principal Jost Capito was quick to speak on the “extremely difficult” situation now facing Latifi having been beaten by an interim team-mate.
“It’s extremely difficult for him,” Capito admitted.
“To have a new driver in the other car who is faster is extremely high pressure.
“As a Formula 1 driver you have to be able to handle the pressure as there are only 20 places. They are the best and you have to be able to handle that.
“We’ll have to see about that now.”
Ex-F1 driver, turned Dutch Grand Prix boss Jan Lammers, believes nobody can question the 27-year-old’s talent, but that unfortunately he was somewhat born at the wrong time!
“There is no doubt about Nyck’s qualities,” Lammers told NOS.
“He had the peak of his career with the Latifis, Strolls and Mazepins of the sport, meaning three of the available seats in Formula 1 were taken.
“That made it very difficult for him.”
De Vries looks set to have two options for 2023. Williams, of course, but also Alpine.
Talks between Alpine and Pierre Gasly have gone quiet as of late, opening a door for the Mercedes reserve driver.
De Vries will actually test the Enstone-based team’s 2021 car at the Hungaroring, alongside IndyCar driver Colton Herta and F2 Alpine Academy driver Jack Doohan, who has also been linked to the seat.
The Dutchman thinks his performance at Monza has given his chances of getting a seat a “boost”, but that no matter what nobody can take the Italian GP away from him.
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“Maybe I should prepare a Powerpoint presentation,” de Vries joked to De Telegraaf newspaper.
“Formula 1 is a very dynamic world, and that that reason it is difficult to estimate what my chances are. What happened on Sunday undoubtedly gave a boost.
“But it’s not up to me who gets in their car. Whatever happens, though, nobody can take Monza away from me now.”