Which is harder to train—an F1 driver or a fighter pilot? Most people might assume it’s the fighter pilot. However, Formula One is a unique exception. Some may doubt this, but the following story will reveal why.
In 2022, at the age of 27, Nyck de Vries—though three years older than Max Verstappen—had still not started a Formula One race. Years earlier, he had shone on the world karting stage, winning the championship and earning a place in McLaren’s junior driver program. At that time, he was already a standout among his peers, full of talent and potential.
In 2014, de Vries competed in the Formula Renault series for three seasons, eventually winning the championship. However, at just 19 years old, he hadn’t yet proven extraordinary enough to jump directly into F1. Instead, he had to work his way up step by step, starting with GP3 and hoping to break through in the higher-level Formula 2.
But on the road to F1, talent is never in short supply. In the 2018 F2 season, another McLaren junior, Lando Norris, finished second overall, overshadowing de Vries and ultimately taking the seat that might have been his. De Vries chose to continue in F2 for another year while also racing in the World Endurance Championship to gain experience. His persistence paid off, and in 2019 he finally claimed the F2 championship title.
Yet some argued that his victory was only possible because the 2018 top three—Russell, Norris, and Albon—had all moved up to F1. In other words, critics dismissed his title as a “soft” championship. His F1 path was once again blocked. Many drivers in such situations drift away to other series and never return. But de Vries told himself: “GP2 may have weak champions, but F2 has no frauds.”
With that belief, de Vries turned to Formula E in 2020 and 2021, racing with Mercedes. While the level of competition might not match F1, the wheel-to-wheel battles were just as intense. His determination eventually paid off—he won the Formula E World Championship.
This opened the door for him in F1. Williams gave him a chance to substitute for Alex Albon at the Italian Grand Prix. Driving a Williams, he scored points on debut, finishing ninth after fending off multiple challenges from Zhou Guanyu. Compared with Nicholas Latifi’s performance, de Vries’ result was nothing short of a miracle.
After the race, de Vries was so exhausted that he could barely stand. Many assumed it was because F1 cars are physically harder to drive than Formula E machines, but the truth runs deeper. This was likely his last, best chance to break into F1, and the mental pressure was immense. He had to unleash everything he had learned in his career in a single do-or-die performance.
Ultimately, persistence was rewarded. In 2023, Nyck de Vries officially joined AlphaTauri, finally achieving his dream of becoming a Formula One driver.
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