F1 expert shares what he’s heard about potential Nyck de Vries replacements at AlphaTauri

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Formula 1 journalist Lawrence Barretto has shared that he’s heard about the potential replacements for Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri.

Speaking on the F1 Preview Show, Barretto was discussing the driver line-up at the Italian team.

It’s not been the easiest season for AlphaTauri after five races.

Yuki Tsunoda has managed two tenth-place finishes in one of the worst cars on the grid.

His teammate Nyck de Vries is technically a rookie and has yet to finish above 14^th.

After an incredible race at Monza last season for Williams, plenty of teams were lining up to sign the Dutchman.

However, De Vries has struggled in the AlphaTauri, and there’s already talk the team are considering replacements.

AlphaTauri are part of the Red Bull set-up and therefore have plenty of drivers they could call upon.

Although the 28-year-old wasn’t originally part of their programme, he leapfrogged several young racers into a seat this season.

Right now, that decision doesn’t appear to be paying off, and time might be running out for De Vries already.

AlphaTauri stance on De Vries replacements

Asked if he had heard anything about a potential change at AlphaTauri, Barretto said: “I think his [De Vries’s] form has led to this kind of speculation.

“Helmut Marko has come out and talked about how Daniel Ricciardo isn’t really in the frame to step in to replace Nyck at the moment.

“The thing I feel is Red Bull fought so hard to get him, they fought off Williams, they fought off Alpine to convince Nyck to come.

“So, it’s sort of within their interests to try and give him enough time to prove that they fought for the right guy. I do think they’re going to give him a bit more time.

“I do think their preference would be to let Liam Lawson go and win the Super Formula Championship, to let [Ayumu] Iwasa with the F2 Championship, and then come into Formula 1 next year.

“Bringing them in mid-season is not really what they want to be doing. So I think they are going to give Nyck a little bit longer.”

De Vries has not been helped by his current car being one of the slowest on the grid.

He’s also had to deal primarily with street circuits so far this season, which doesn’t necessarily suit his racing style.

He would have been gutted that last weekend’s race at Imola was cancelled.

De Vries will be hoping that AlphaTauri aren’t considering replacements too carefully at this stage.

If he can impress in Monaco, that will go a long way to securing his place on the grid.