Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc has expressed his views on Red Bull and AlphaTauri’s “very harsh” decision to dismiss Dutch racing driver Nyck de Vries following a challenging start to the 2023 Formula One championship. The 2020–21 Formula E World Champion was brought in as Pierre Gasly’s replacement for the current year but was let go after just ten rounds due to his inability to score even a single point and his struggles with pace and consistency alongside teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
The Dutch driver has been replaced by eight-time grand prix winner Daniel Ricciardo, who will make a stunning return to racing at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest after serving as Red Bull’s reserve driver for the first half of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign. Speaking to the media in Budapest on Thursday, Charles Leclerc revealed that he reached out to offer his condolences to Nyck De Vries and believes that Red Bull acted too hastily in dropping the 28-year-old.
“I don’t know, I think it’s obviously very difficult for Nyck. I sent him a text yesterday because it’s I’m sure that it’s a difficult one to take. I’m sad. I think it’s too harsh for Nyck, but obviously also happy to see Daniel back in the paddock. It’s part of Formula 1 but it’s true that it’s very harsh for Nyck.” – the Ferrari man explained ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen, the current reigning World Champion, expressed similar sentiments to Charles Leclerc’s. He acknowledged his happiness for seeing his former teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, make a full-time return to the grid after impressing in the Red Bull B19 car during a recent Pirelli tyre test. However, the Red Bull driver also conveyed his disappointment for what has happened to his fellow Dutchman Nyck De Vries:
“I spoke already quite a bit with Daniel last week, I could see he was very excited also after driving our car. So of course it’s great to have Daniel back on the grid [and] within the family. Of course, on the other side, I’m also good friends with Nyck so it’s also sad to see him go. But unfortunately, that’s also how this world works. I don’t think there are any hard feelings between the drivers, that’s just how it goes. But you have to move on. There are a lot of other opportunities out there – it’s not only Formula 1 in this world of racing – so I’m sure everyone will land back on [their] feet like normal. You move on and now the opportunity is here with Daniel again. He had his little reset – I think including Vegas – so I think he’s ready to go again.” – he pointed out.
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