De Vries closer to F1 chance than ever before: 'You could say that'

Nyck de Vries will be at the Zandvoort circuit this weekend with the Mercedes team as reserve driver. The Formula E driver has been linked with a seat at Williams and now with the Alfa Romeo seat.

The Dutch branch of Motorsport.com spoke with the Dutchman. "In sports, there is always something going on and it is always uncertain. Especially in our world," De Vries starts about the rumours.

"At the end of the day, it's all about your performance. I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had and everything I can and do at the moment. I'm also flattered by Toto's words. But on the other hand, I know I just have to do my job and my job is to drive as fast as I can and perform. That's what I'm mainly concerned with. What the future holds, I don't know yet."

De Vries never came so close to an F1 seat before

De Vries will at least drive for Mercedes in FE next season, where Toto Wolff would like to see him. However, Mercedes announced it would be leaving Formula E after next season. "You don't take that into account beforehand," says De Vries. "I am happy with the position I have there. We have a fantastic team, my relationship with Stoffel [Vandoorne, his teammate] is good and it is a beautiful championship. So I'm actually very happy there. But nobody knows what tomorrow looks like."

Whether De Vries is closer to a Formula One opportunity than ever before? "You could say it like that. There is a lot of talk about it now and I am being linked to different teams in Formula 1. That is good for me because it is nice to see that there is interest and that they think of me. But on the other hand, to be honest, I'm not too worried about it."

'I think I'm at my best now'

Two years ago De Vries became Formula 2 champion, but at the time he was unable to make a direct switch to F1. De Vries seems more ready for an F1 opportunity now than two years ago. "A perfect moment [for the jump to Formula 1] is maybe never there. But I think I am at my best now, for this moment. But your development never stops. As a driver, you always keep developing. I learn every day," says De Vries.