Nyck de Vries is ready for F1: 'This is going to help me'

Nyck de Vries kicks off his first season as a Formula 1 driver tomorrow in Bahrain, when he steps into his AT04. After years of dreaming, bickering, trial and error, his dream is finally coming true. Speaking to the AD, the Frysian looks back and ahead.

After years of hope and rejection, it was finally the appendix of colleague Alexander Albon that offered De Vries the chance to show everyone his talent. That race in Monza. Albon had to drop out due to appendicitis and, to the surprise of everyone in the paddock, half an hour later Nyck de Vries was in his Williams to drive FP3 24 hours later, the Dutchman was flagged off in P9 and knew he could not miss out on F1.

Working with Gasly's former trainer

After winning F2, endurance racing and a World Championship in Formula E, De Vries is now the oldest 'rookie' in years. There are a lot of races on his palmares, but full-time driving in Formula 1 not yet. De Vries had to hit the gym to get up to speed: "You can't get away with the occasional hour in the gym and some running here."

Together with Pierre Gasly's former trainer, the Dutchman set to work. "I'm not a softy, really don't mind hard work. But sometimes I did think: man, this is kind of next level."

De Vries ready for Formula 1

He may not be the youngest rookie at 28, but De Vries himself does not see it as a problem. "I'm not coming in at 21, I already have a bit more life experience. Experienced more things in life, and done a lot." It's going to help him, he believes. "All those adventures have taught me to keep seeing the 'big picture' more. I have learned to sense where to put the focus and priorities. You have so little time on the track that you have to be very pragmatic for yourself in deciding what is most important and what you need to go faster."