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De Vries can handle the pressure: "I think I'll never be satisfied enough"
There is a lot of pressure on Nyck de Vries and his seat in Formula 1 at AlphaTauri. The Dutchman himself knows how to deal with this and put it into perspective. De Vries has the right people around him not to succumb to the pressure. For instance, he is very good with two-time F1 champion Max Verstappen.
De Vries is never satisfied enough
After a great foray into the 2022 Italian GP in Alexander Albon's Williams, De Vries impressed F1 chiefs. In 2023, the Dutchman was allowed to make his full F1 debut at AlphaTauri. With good feedback during a strong period of winter testing, De Vries raised the bar even higher. Since then, the Dutchman seems to have been somewhat disappointing.
Red Bull Racing bosses often discuss De Vries' future with the media. Yet De Vries is coping well with the pressure on his spot in F1. For instance, prior to the British GP, he discussed his position alongside teammate Yuki Tsunoda in conversation with GPblog and others. After all, De Vries says he is not happy at the moment, will he be if he beats Tsunoda? De Vries: "I think I'll never be satisfied enough."
'Verstappen feels like a big brother'
So how does De Vries deal with it and leave racing out of his head? De Vries: “There is always pressure. I've always said that pressure is relative. You guys have pressure to deliver in your job and we all have responsibilities in life. So do I. I might experience my pressure as intense, but so do you" The Dutchman has been trying to play more golf lately. That's where he can vent all his frustrations.
De Vries also seems to have a lot to share with other drivers. For instance, he discusses his old Formula E teammate Stoffel Vandoorne who also drove in Formula 1. It's not just Vandoorne. De Vries: "I feel I have good people around me. I feel confident and supported." That group also includes Verstappen. For example, the driver says: "We've known each other since we were eight years old. That relationship has always been great. As I said earlier, he feels like an older brother in this paddock. We respect each other a lot. That relationship is still really good."