The news that emerged in recent weeks surprised many. Nyck De Vries, after his brief stint in F1 with the Red Bull family, took part in private tests with McLaren at the Paul Ricard circuit in France.
According to reports, later confirmed by Zak Brown himself, the British team has not yet decided on its reserve driver for the 2025 season. Among the candidates was Gabriel Bortoleto, who opted to part ways with McLaren to accept a seat with Sauber.
Additionally, it appears that De Vries performed quite well in the tests. “We are evaluating several drivers, but Nyck definitely performed well,” said Brown. “He is undoubtedly a great talent, and we’ll see what happens.”
Is a return to Formula 1 on the horizon?
A few weeks later, it seems increasingly likely that McLaren will choose the former Racing Bulls driver as their reserve for the 2025 season. For De Vries, it would be an opportunity to showcase his talent again, with 2026 potentially opening up various market scenarios.
However, we will have to wait for the official announcement from the historic British team, which could come in the next few days. It also remains to be seen what role Pato O’Ward will play, as he has long hoped for an F1 opportunity following his strong performances in IndyCar.
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