Tom Coronel, a notable figure in Dutch racing and a charismatic pundit, has voiced his opinions on Nyck de Vries’ short-lived Formula 1 journey with Alpha Tauri. Coronel believes that de Vries, a 28-year-old Dutch rookie, didn’t receive a “fair chance” in F1, attributing his mid-season ousting to internal dynamics within the Red Bull team.
Speaking to the Dutch magazine Formule 1, Coronel reflected on de Vries’ stint: “It only lasted ten races. I don’t think he had a fair chance. He should have finished the year,” he insisted. “Nyck made mistakes and some of them were bad, 100 percent. But I did see improvement. He just wasn’t able to peak and that’s a shame.”
Coronel suspects that de Vries was overwhelmed from the outset of his F1 career, facing undue pressure. “Before the season, Helmut Marko positioned him as the leader of the team and Franz Tost also said that he was counting on Nyck to be there from the first qualifying,” Coronel explained. “Nyck is not a talker, not a leader, but he should have said ‘Guys, wait a minute, don’t forget that I need some time’.”
The Dutch racing driver also highlighted the behind-the-scenes maneuvers involving Daniel Ricciardo. “We know that Daniel Ricciardo was being lined up behind the scenes, that he had a deal and that he had to drive. I think Nyck knew very quickly that he would not do the entire season,” Coronel added. He believes that a deal was struck between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, resulting in Ricciardo replacing de Vries after the initial ten races.
When Ricciardo joined Alpha Tauri, he immediately benefitted from an aggressive development program. “He performed immediately,” Coronel concedes, implying that de Vries could have also succeeded with more time. “I am absolutely convinced that everything would have turned out fine for him. Let’s not forget that the car he got was a sh*thouse on wheels.”
Coronel acknowledges that de Vries’ approach to building up speed through preparation and experience may have played a role in his struggles. “He does the theory first, then practice,” he said. This approach, contrasting with the instinctive styles of drivers like Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri, perhaps held de Vries back, especially considering his extensive background as a test driver.
Finally, Coronel also pointed out the prowess of Yuki Tsunoda, de Vries’ teammate. “And finally, let’s not forget that Yuki Tsunoda is seriously fast. He’s better than most think. He was in his third year, fighting for his last chance, and racing with the knife between his teeth,” Coronel concluded.
