De Vries has to get used to extra attention after AlphaTauri contract

He became champion in Formula 2, but then there was no seat available for him in Formula 1 and Nyck de Vries made the move to Formula E, where he became the first official Formula E World Champion in 2021 for the Mercedes team. But this year, we see him frequently in Formula 1 and his fame has taken a flight. Something the 27-year-old driver from the Frisian town of Uitwellingerga still has to get used to.

He drove free practice sessions for both 'his' team Mercedes, where he is reserve driver, and Aston Martin and Williams. The latter two even in one weekend, when he drove the first free practice of the Monza GP in Sebastian Vettel's car and got into Alexander Albon's car the next day when the latter ended up in hospital with appendicitis. The Dutch driver drove the third free practice as well as qualifying and the race for Williams. He finished ninth, scoring his first World Championship points.

Nevertheless, De Vries could still move around the paddock relatively unhindered. How different it became when it was announced that he will take over Pierre Gasly's seat at AlphaTauri next year. Thus, at the Mexican Grand Prix, he told Motorsport.com that extra security had to be appointed because he was besieged at the hotel the night before. He finds it hard, he says, to have to turn people away but keeps to himself that if he gives one person his way he cannot sell another no.

De Vries chooses manager

Apart from the constant attention on his person in the paddock and outside, with him handing out autographs and posing for selfies with fans in a conveyor belt, he has also for the first time hired a manager to look after his interests. He has known his new manager since he was active in Formula Renault 2.0 and Guillaume Le Goff, as Pierre Gasly's manager, is also no stranger to Italian AlphaTauri. It is not the intention that Le Goff will sit between De Vries and his new team, De Vries thinks the ties with his team are important and therefore wants to be in talks with them himself, but will take care of the other matters.