Nyck de Vries understands criticism of current F1: 'Overtakes feel artificial'

De Vries had to wait a while for it. For the first time since the second race in Berlin in 2022, the Dutchman won last weekend, on none other than the challenging circuit of Monaco, claiming his fifth victory in the electric series. It was a reward for years of work with Mahindra, a team with which De Vries often ran at the back in their first season together.

In recent seasons, the Indian team has worked hard on a better car, with De Vries' win as a tangible result. That brought big smiles to the faces of all team members, not least to the Dutchman himself. “I get a lot of enjoyment out of Formula E,” De Vries says in an exclusive interview with GPblog. “Especially on the technical side, it’s very challenging. The competition is extremely high, and you’re constantly being pushed.”

The Dutchman also has a busy 2026 season ahead; with his races in Formula E, in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and his role as test and simulator driver for McLaren’s Formula 1 team. At the team of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, he helps further explore the new generation of Formula 1 cars, which feature partially electrified power units.

Thanks to his knowledge of Formula E and his ability to manage a battery, De Vries is a highly valuable asset for McLaren. “Absolutely. That’s become more relevant than ever. So the experience I’ve built up in that specific area is now relevant for Formula 1 as well.”

At the same time, De Vries has also heard that teammate Norris in particular is not a fan of this type of power unit. When GPblog asks the former Formula E champion what he thinks of the criticism of the current F1 cars, he first says: “Who am I to have an opinion on that?”

He then adds: “I understand very well that in Formula 1 it has traditionally always been about maximizing optimization; just being able to go flat out, going around the circuit as fast as possible and braking as late as possible. So I get that it might not be what Formula 1 drivers expect from Formula 1. They should simply be the fastest cars in the world. Personally, I find the overtakes I’ve seen very artificial.”

In recent weeks, some F1 drivers have said that their sport shouldn’t become Formula E, as if that were somehow inferior. “Oh, that’s not how I see it,” De Vries responds. “You shouldn’t compare Formula E with Formula 1. On a technical level there’s something to learn, but in sporting terms they’re not even close. You have to see them separately. So if you enjoy following Formula E, that’s great! But it’s a different branch of the sport. Just as WEC is also something very different.”

The Formula E championship doesn’t resume until late June in China. For De Vries, the focus now shifts to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the biggest race in the WEC season. With Toyota, the Dutchman is always a contender, especially given the excellent form he is currently in.

At 31, the ex-F1 driver seems to be getting better and better. “I think you always keep learning, cliché as that sounds. Especially in this case, especially in this WEC championship. I feel that I learn more every year and become more complete, although I’m not sure if that’s really the right word. The outright speed doesn’t change, but you gain more knowledge and experience. Whether that always leads to a better result is immeasurable. But I’m sure I get better every year.”