Nyck De Vries is “grateful” after it was confirmed he will drive for AlphaTauri in Formula 1 in 2023 on Saturday.
The Dutchman became a man in demand after his brilliant performance with Williams at Monza, where he finished ninth on debut standing in for Alex Albon.
And after AlphaTauri failed in their bid to sign Colton Herta due to the FIA’s refusal to grant a superlicence exemption, De Vries became their main target to replace the Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining Scuderia AlphaTauri for 2023 and I want to thank both Red Bull and the team for giving me the opportunity to drive in F1,” the former F2 and Formula E champion said.
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“After Formula 2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it.
“I’ve had a lot of chances to experience the 2022 car this year and I think that has put me in a great position for the upcoming season, I hope this has helped to prepare me for what is to come.”
In recent years, De Vries has been linked to Mercedes, winning his Formula E with the German brand, and making three FP1 appearances in 2022, including one with the Brackley-based team.
But he is excited to join the Faenza-based outfit, recalling his history in Italy.
“Having spent most of my teenage years in Italy for karting, I’ve always felt at home there, so for me, it’s great to be joining an Italian team, that already has a real family feel,” he added.
“I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and to start to build our relationship before the next season.”
AlphaTauri chief Franz Tost also gave his full support to De Vries, commenting: “We are pleased to start a new chapter with Nyck, who’s very much welcome at Scuderia AlphaTauri.
“He is a very highly skilled driver, as he won in all the categories he competed in, with many races and championships under his belt.
“His last big success was winning the Formula E World Championship, and this is clear evidence that he is a very competitive driver, who deserves a seat in F1.
“I am looking forward to seeing him in our car and I’m confident that with Yuki and Nyck we will have a very strong driver lineup for 2023.”
The Austrian also paid tribute to Gasly, who has spent at least part of every season at the team since his debut in 2017.
“AlphaTauri had a very successful time with Pierre,” he said.
“We will never forget his fantastic victory in Monza and his podium finishes in Brazil and Azerbaijan.
“I want to thank Pierre for all the effort he’s put into the team in the last years, and I wish him all the best for his future.”