Mechanical problem kept De Vries inside longer during FP2 in Australia

AlphaTauri came to Australia with the first upgrade package of this season, and it is much needed. The Italian team have not scored a single point yet, and De Vries has yet to get out of Q1 once so far this season. However, in the first free practice, he was able to find some pace with his AT04, finishing 14th at the session's end.

De Vries stays in

''Today’s sessions were certainly different in terms of conditions but also as for learning and trying various things. The GPS issue didn’t help, especially due to the nature of the track in which the tyre warm-up also plays an important role. We had a good FP1, after which we made some changes for FP2 to better understand what our new upgrades are doing. Because there is a small bit of grass between the track and the wall, it is a tricky street track where there's no margin for error. After today, there are a few unknowns about the new upgrades, but we will find out more after the analysis we do tonight. We will need to continue to put things together and build on them during FP3 tomorrow,'' De Vries commented in AlphaTauri's press release.

During FP1, De Vries racked up the most laps out of all drivers, with 25 laps. Conversely, in FP2, the Dutchman only managed eight laps in the afternoon session, mainly because he stayed inside and did not go out on the wet track at the end of the session. Jonathan Eddols, AlphaTauri's Chief Race Engineer, said that the team saw a mechanical problem with Nyck's car, forcing the number #21 car to stay in the garage.