Expectations might be to high on De Vries next year
Oct.20 - Nyck de Vries should be given half a season to get up to speed as a full-time Formula 1 driver.
That is the view of Dutch F1 GP boss Jan Lammers, who says it's "fantastic" that the Netherlands is enjoying an impressive moment in world motorsport.
"We now have a second Dutch driver in F1," Lammers, himself a former F1 driver, told De Telegraaf.
Jan Lammers flags Max Verstappen in the Red Bull RB8 for the very first lap around the refurbished Zandvoort (2020)
"What's happening is not normal. We also have Rinus van Kalmthout in Indycar, MP Motorsport is the Formula 2 champion, Atze Kerkhof is a driver coach at Alfa Romeo and Rudy van Buren is a sim driver at Red Bull Racing.
"There were times when things like this were totally unthinkable."
However, Lammers also warns that given Max Verstappen's dominance of Formula 1 and De Vries' impressive Monza debut for Williams, the expectations on 27-year-old rookie De Vries may be too high.
"We can be very sentimental on the one hand, but I also think it is good to keep expectations realistic next year," he said.
"What Nyck showed in Monza was wonderful, but he has also acknowledged that Monza is physically the easiest track and the best track of the year for Williams.
"We should all give Nyck the first half of the season next year to feel comfortable in the car and everything else that comes with it. We have to give him time for that," Lammers insisted.
"Hopefully AlphaTauri will make some progress and then we can really judge Nyck after the summer break. Anything he can accomplish earlier is a plus.
"We also cannot underestimate his teammate (Yuki) Tsunoda either."
Red Bull's imperious Dr Helmut Marko, however, is already piling the pressure on De Vries, lining him up to actual be the AlphaTauri team leader in 2023.
"I think he can have a very strong season," another former Dutch F1 driver, Christijan Albers, said.
"He will have to, because he will have to beat his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. I have faith that he can do that. Tsunoda started very well last year but then collapsed."
Albers said fellow Dutchman De Vries is an example of someone who never gave up on their dream of reaching their goals.
"I always say that in this world you have to create your happiness," he said. "That's what Nyck did.
"He kept on fighting and remained involved in Formula 1 as a test driver. He never gave up. Nyck was able to gain experience and was an ideal stand-in for many teams.
"He was lucky in Monza of course because Williams was competitive and the other teams were asleep, so he was always running on softer tyres than the drivers around him.
"But he was able to put himself in the spotlight."
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Let's hope that Marko's attitude and approach doesn't destroy Nyck's enthusiasm and eagerness to achieve success.
I think Nyck is a bright star for the future joining Piastri and Sargeant to generate greater interest in F1. It's time for a change!
Nyck is no kid hell be 28 next yr, if he cant handle Marco or the pressure by that age i'm afraid he shouldn't be here
Agree Shrop', but how do you handle the doc if you don't have a huge pile of cash or Jos the Bruiser as a father? Piss off Marko and you're toast.
Smokey, you keep touting Logan Sargeant. He has never won any competitive championship, in fact has only 14 wins in 6 seasons of racing, 7 of those wins in beginner series. I agree that seeing young lions move in to F1 is great, but is Logan Sargeant the future? Not saying that you are wrong, but there is a wealth of young talent.
Had to check the stats , truth is so far hes not beaten anyone whose either in f1 or a superstar in another series, so i agree with Ror, he may well get the seat but but hes no superstar judging by results
You may be correct, ROR. However, IMO, Sargeant is one of the drivers with age on his side to make the grade and his performance has attracted the interest of F1 bosses. Theo Pourchaire is another.
There is also Jack Doohan, who has an impeccable pedigree, although I believe he needs another season in F2 to mature.
It is great for F1 to have so many good young talents available to inject into the F1 future. Let's hope we see the end of finance based drivers and more focus on driver skills determining lineups.
Amen, Smokey, completely agree re the young lions and talent focused opportunities. American driver, I don't know, different languages, strange food, lonely travel, cultural anomalies are challenges for mostly sheltered US kids. And the money, oh the money. The $$$ are the reason you get only the Strolls and Latifis.
Very often immediate success does more harm than good.
Give the guy a chance
Quit the shite talk already