The FIA introduced a new rule from the 2022 Formula 1 season in which all teams had to line up rookie drivers in at least two free practice sessions to give them a chance. For this reason, the teams made their plans to see what time of the year was the best option, and despite the fact that many fulfilled their obligations at the beginning of the campaign, others have waited until the end.
This is the case of Mercedes, who dropped Lewis Hamilton from his W13 at the French Grand Prix to raise Nyck de Vries , one of their official reserves. The Dutchman, in addition, completed the first practices with Aston Martin [in Italy] and the race with Williams replacing the injured Alexander Albon, and that changed the situation of his career.
The Dutchman managed to get into the points at Monza, which caught the attention of many in the paddock, and thanks to a call to Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko , he signed for AlphaTauri for the 2023 season. His signing could mean it would be him who would get on the AT03 in some free practice session in the remainder of the course, even more so seeing that the seat has been made in the Faenza factory, but the plan of the Italian team seems different.
As has been known, de Vries still has a contract with Mercedes, which would prevent him from getting on the AlphaTauri. This is how the director of the Red Bull minor team, Franz Tost , told it: “I don’t think it’s possible because he has a contract with another team. Free practice is not planned at the moment, but hopefully we will see him in Abu Dhabi during the test. of young pilots.
The Formula E champion, after visiting the factory of his new team, hopes to feel at home: “AlphaTauri has a strong Italian DNA and that suits me. I spent a large part of my childhood in Italy for karting, so I feel like at home there.”
“The country always makes me feel welcome and, in any case, I have a very strong family feeling with that team,” said the 27-year-old.
However, the Dutchman could repeat again with the Silver Arrows at the Mexican Grand Prix to take George Russell’s seat and complete the German team’s program to comply with the FIA. For its part, AlphaTauri should resort to another name, and Liam Lawson , who already knows what the Italian single-seater is, has all the ballots to carry out that mandatory session.
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