Former AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries has spoken out for the primary time since being sacked by Pink Bull.
De Vries has been changed at Pink Bull’s junior crew by Daniel Ricciardo, efficient from this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix onwards, and dropped from its driver programme totally.
De Vries, who impressed as a stand in for Williams driver Alex Albon in Italy final 12 months, lasted simply 10 races of rookie season.
The 28-year-old took an unorthodox path to F1 after profitable feeder sequence Method 2 in 2019, claiming the 2020/21 Method E title on his means.
The Dutchman’s choices for a return to F1 look restricted, though he retains a great relationship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, having beforehand been a part of the corporate’s driver secure.
In a press release posted to Instagram, De Vries urged he isn’t accomplished along with his F1 dream.
“I wish to thank Pink Bull and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the chance to reside my dream,” he mentioned. “After all it hurts that the F1 likelihood I dreamed of for therefore lengthy ended prematurely. However life is just not a vacation spot, it is a journey and generally it’s important to take the exhausting highway to get the place you wish to be.
“I’m grateful for our privileged lives, happy with our journey and my household. That is simply one other expertise, we transfer on and stay up for the following chapter. Thanks to everybody on your form and inspiring messages prior to now week. It has been heart-warming to really feel your help.”
De Vries was signed to the Pink Bull driver programme largely off the again of his drive to ninth in Monza final 12 months.
Helmut Marko, the person who has signed him, rapidly soured on De Vries and spoke out about him publicly on quite a few events.