P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Nyck de Vries was a Formula 1 driver again for a short while last weekend. He was spotted at the French circuit of Paul Ricard behind the wheel of a 2022 McLaren.
Nyck de Vries, along with Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, recently won the constructors’ title in WEC (World Endurance Championship) during the season’s final race. Shortly after this victory, De Vries was seen testing a 2022 McLaren MCL36 F1 car at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, despite also driving for Mahindra in Formula E pre-season testing. The testing of older cars, like this McLaren, allows for more flexibility, with teams like Mercedes using it to prepare new drivers for their F1 debuts. The purpose behind De Vries’ recent test in the McLaren remains unclear, but it could be linked to the upcoming departure of current McLaren reserve driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who is set to leave for Stake. De Vries has had previous ties to McLaren’s training programme, adding to the intrigue surrounding this unexpected testing session.
