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Analysis | Should De Vries really fear losing his AlphaTauri seat?
- Ludo van Denderen
Where there is smoke, there is fire. Especially in Formula 1. So once the rumour emerges that Nyck de Vries needs to perform better for AlphaTauri with a view to his future, there is undoubtedly some truth in it. Although everyone knows that AlphaTauri and also Red Bull Racing are anything but happy with the current situation. But should the Dutchman really fear that his Formula 1 adventure is short-lived?
Fair's fair: had Red Bull had a driver in their own training programme who was expected to make waves in F1 this season, this man would have been in the AlphaTauri. It was finally a windfall for Nyck de Vries - part of Mercedes until this season - after years of hoping in vain for a seat in Formula 1. De Vries going through a difficult season start is chapter two.
Number of crashes is a point of concern
The AlphaTauri is not a top car, that much is clear by now. It already cost a high-ranking person within the team his job, team boss Franz Tost revealed in Miami. Nobody will be shocked that De Vries doesn't score points every race. That Yuki Tsunoda consistently outperforms De Vries is probably forgivable too under the heading of 'learning process'. Undoubtedly, though, the number of crashes and collisions is a concern. The very man who was brought in because of his experience and constancy should not make so many rookie mistakes.
In the wings, Daniel Ricciardo is reportedly ready to switch with De Vries. The fact that the Australian - third driver at Red Bull - recently had a seat made at AlphaTauri is not surprising. After all, not only is Ricciardo the stand-in for Red Bull at certain Grands Prix, he also is for AlphaTauri. Appointing Ricciardo permanently to AlphaTauri would be remarkable from both his and the team's point of view.
Is Ricciardo doing better?
Ricciardo just stepped out of Formula 1 (temporarily) because, among other reasons, he did not fancy competing at the back (at Haas, for example). That is precisely what he would do with AlphaTauri. Meanwhile, the Italian team will realise that there will be little to show for it this year, and that this could be just another gap year. With this car, though, would Ricciardo structurally finish around eighth to tenth? Extremely doubtful. So why lose face by sidelining De Vries mid-season, regardless of the financial consequences?
A changing of the guard cannot be ruled out either. In any case, Ricciardo is someone who does not do weekly damage and he is already part of the Red Bull family. GPblog asked AlphaTauri what was true about all the rumours surrounding De Vries and Ricciardo. The press officer's response was: "No comment from our side, I have not heard anything."
Words heard before
These are words that have been uttered in the past in the case of Pierre Gasly, for example, who did not have to fear for his seat at Red Bull Racing. The Frenchman eventually lost his spot to Alexander Albon after all. Indeed, in Formula 1, a contract says a lot, but certainly not everything.
So should De Vries not fear for his job at all? Of course, at some point - and sooner rather than later - he will have to perform. After all, the Red Bull family can be harsh. But probably the leaking of these rumours was first of all a clear signal for the Dutchman.