De Vries nervous about chance to drive Mercedes car: 'Whole world watching'

Nyck de Vries will take his place in Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes for the first free practice session of the weekend before the French Grand Prix. The Dutchman is feeling healthy nerves.

In Spain, De Vries already took place in the Williams for a practice session, but now the Dutchman can also get into the Mercedes car. He will use the same tyres as George Russell. Hamilton himself chose to let De Vries enter the car at Paul Ricard. This year Formula 1 drivers are obliged to give a practice session to a young driver.

De Vries is not completely calm, but fortunately these are healthy nerves. "I'm always nervous before everything I do, because I want to do everything I do well. That doesn't come naturally and I put a certain pressure on myself. I do feel healthy nerves", he tells in conversation with Rob Kamphues for Ziggo Sport.

De Vries cares about his work

De Vries does not want to say that he has to rely on hard work, but every driver has a different approach. "Everyone has their own way and walks their own path. I think for example Max [Verstappen], George [Russell] and Leclerc are drivers from the same generation and all operate very differently. I think they can all deliver a similar performance."

The Mercedes reserve driver continues: "For me, it's about the fact that apart from the work, I also care. This is my life, this is my sport. I want to do well. In a Formula 1 weekend like this, the whole world is watching. You get into a Mercedes and you have one hour, two sets of tyres and you are sitting next to a driver who can dream about the car."