F1 News: Red Bull Advisor Reveals Who Will Replace Nyck de Vries After Poor Performance
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has dismissed reports suggesting that Nyck de Vries, the Dutch driver competing for AlphaTauri, is on the verge of being replaced. Despite rumors circulating that Red Bull development driver Daniel Ricciardo would step in if de Vries failed to perform in the upcoming triple-header, Marko has categorically denied such claims while revealing what the contingency plan is.
One of the primary concerns surrounding Nyck de Vries is the notable contrast in performance between him and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Despite AlphaTauri having a car that is widely considered to be one of the weakest on the grid, Tsunoda has been impressively consistent throughout the season, contributing significantly to the team's points tally.
In contrast, de Vries has struggled to find the same level of consistency, which was evident in his performance at the Miami Grand Prix. A collision with Lando Norris at the start of the race further compounded his difficulties, hampering both drivers' chances of a strong finish.
Adjusting to the demands of Formula 1 has proven to be a considerable challenge for Nyck de Vries, despite a promising debut season where he scored points at the Italian Grand Prix while replacing Alex Albon at Williams. However, inconsistency has plagued his performance, raising concerns about his ability to deliver consistent results.
Dr. Helmut Marko clarified in an interview with F1 Insider that there will be no immediate changes in the driver lineup for the upcoming races.
“Nothing will happen in the coming races,” he said. “We talked to de Vries and he agrees with us: he needs to improve. The gap to teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who is doing great, is too big.
“To speak in football player language, Nyck got the yellow card, but not the red one yet. If he improves, there will be no problem.”
Should Nyck de Vries continue to struggle, Red Bull has a contingency plan in place. Dr. Marko confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo, the 33-year-old driver, will not be considered for a race seat.
“In the worst-case scenario, we can fall back on our pool of young talent,” Marko continued.
“We are talking about Liam Lawson and Ayumu Iwasa, not Ricciardo."