Former Red Bull Driver Makes Unexpected Return with.....

Former Red Bull Driver Makes Unexpected Return with….. read more

Former Red Bull and AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries recently made headlines as he returned to the Formula 1 scene in a surprise test session with McLaren. The Dutch driver, who had a short yet eventful F1 career, was spotted behind the wheel of a McLaren F1 car at Circuit Paul Ricard, the former home of the French Grand Prix. This unexpected appearance marks de Vries’ first on-track return since his dismissal from the Red Bull junior team, AlphaTauri, in mid-2023.

De Vries’ path in Formula 1 has been a unique one. Initially known for his years in reserve roles, his breakthrough moment came during the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. At that race, he was called up by Williams to substitute for Alex Albon, who was sidelined due to illness. De Vries impressed immediately, finishing ninth in his debut, which earned him critical acclaim and captured the attention of Red Bull Racing. Seeing his potential, Red Bull signed him for the 2023 season and assigned him to AlphaTauri, the team that would later become known as VCARB. De Vries, however, struggled to adapt, and after just ten races, Red Bull decided to replace him with Daniel Ricciardo, signaling an abrupt end to his full-time F1 career.

While it seemed that de Vries’ time in Formula 1 had come to an end, he has since found an opportunity to return, albeit in a different context. Photos recently surfaced on social media of de Vries participating in a testing session with McLaren, specifically behind the wheel of the MCL36—the team’s 2022 car. This session was part of McLaren’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program, held at Circuit Paul Ricard. Although no formal statements have been made to clarify McLaren’s motivations behind this test, speculation around the move has stirred interest within the F1 community.

There are some theories as to why McLaren may have chosen de Vries for this test. One plausible reason could be related to the recent departure of Gabriel Bortoleto, a McLaren junior driver who is currently leading the Formula 2 Championship. Bortoleto recently signed with Sauber, which will eventually transition into the Audi F1 works team. His departure from McLaren’s junior program may have created a gap that McLaren is looking to fill, and testing de Vries could potentially be part of their plans to ensure they have experienced drivers on standby.

The decision to let Bortoleto join Sauber/Audi was reportedly amicable and did not involve any buyout fee, as confirmed by Audi F1 chief Mattia Binotto. In comments to the media, including PlanetF1.com, Binotto clarified that he and McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown discussed Bortoleto’s departure only briefly, and no payment was necessary to free the driver from his McLaren obligations. According to Binotto, Bortoleto simply wanted to pursue an opportunity with Audi F1, which he will join when the team is rebranded in 2025. By that time, Audi hopes to elevate its position within the F1 standings and aims to compete as a manufacturer-backed team.

At Sauber/Audi, Bortoleto will have an experienced teammate in Nico Hulkenberg, who is set to join from Haas. Hulkenberg is no stranger to the Hinwil-based team, having raced for Sauber in 2013. His experience is seen as valuable for Sauber, especially given their current struggles. For the 2024 season, Sauber sits at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship, the only team yet to score a point. Hulkenberg’s presence could help them turn their fortunes around as they prepare for the 2025 transition to Audi.

McLaren’s decision to test de Vries with their previous car might also serve other strategic purposes, as the team continues its own competitive journey within Formula 1. In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, McLaren has seen a resurgence in performance, with drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri securing competitive results. The team aims to maintain its upward trajectory and challenge other top-tier teams, including Red Bull. Having a versatile driver like de Vries, who brings a range of experience from his time with Red Bull and AlphaTauri, could be an asset for McLaren’s broader development strategy, even if only as a backup or test driver.

For de Vries, the opportunity to test with McLaren could mark the beginning of a new chapter in his racing career. Although his full-time F1 stint was cut short, he remains a skilled and experienced driver, and the McLaren test gives him a platform to demonstrate his capabilities once more. Whether this test could lead to a more substantial role for him in Formula 1 remains uncertain. However, his surprise appearance in the McLaren garage has undoubtedly reignited interest in his future within the sport.

The Formula 1 world will be watching closely to see if de Vries’ McLaren test results in any future opportunities, whether with McLaren or elsewhere. For now, his return to the F1 grid, even in a testing capacity, serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of a sport where opportunities can arise at any time, often when least expected.