De Vries has been a reserve driver throughout the season and has followed the race weekends in the Mercedes garage. He participated in an FP1 session with the team substituting for Lewis Hamilton in France.
In Singapore, when it became clear that he would probably be an AlphaTauri driver next season, he was forced to take a step back.
He stopped participating in all the meetings over the weekend as the flow of technical information was cut off, and that continued at the Japanese GP.
However, the team has yet to use a rookie FP1, and de Vries is expected to get behind the wheel of Russell ‘s car at Friday’s Mexican GP.
Elliott says the team is not concerned about de Vries testing the latest Mercedes developments before joining the Red Bull Racing structure.
“We’re very happy for him, for the opportunity he has,” Elliott said. “Maybe it’s a shame where it’s going, but it is what it is.”
“I think he deserves the chance, I think he’s shown he’s a very good driver. Having him in the garage has been brilliant, he’s a really nice guy, very focused, and he understands the car.
“I think we have faith that we can get him in the car, test him, and we can trust him not to look at the things we don’t want him to look at, and I think he will do a good job.”
Elliott noted that Nyck de Vries has done relatively few simulator sessions as he has been focused on his own racing programme: “He has done something. Obviously he has also been racing in Formula E which takes up a lot of his time. “.
“But F1 changes very quickly. Learning happens at such a fast pace that what he has done a year ago is probably not particularly useful to him anymore. I think the most that can be taken away from here is the way we work together. , our processes and our systems”.
“Like I said, I think we just want to wish him luck. I think he’s been very honest in his dealings with us, so there’s no need to worry.”
De Vries stressed that, unlike George Russell, he was not a Mercedes junior, and therefore always free to go elsewhere.
“I guess in the last couple of years I was perceived as a Mercedes driver, and was to the point where I was racing for them in Formula E, and I was active as a reserve driver in F1,” the 27-year-old said. .
“But apart from those contracts there was no other affiliation. Of course, we have established a very friendly relationship throughout the year. So they have been very supportive and helpful.”
“But at the same time, I’m here to look out for my own interests. Of course, I hope they’re disappointed to lose me, I don’t know. You can ask them.”
“But I also think they are happy for me and happy that I get a chance on the F1 grid next year.
