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Nyck de Vries will make his Formula 1 debut in the Italian Grand Prix, replacing Alex Albon at Williams.
A Williams statement revealed that Albon is undergoing treatment for appendicitis.
“Williams Racing can confirm that, after feeling unwell this morning and seeking medical advice from the FIA and local hospital, Alex Albon is now undergoing treatment for appendicitis,” the team said.
“Following on from this, we can confirm that the team’s reserve driver Nyck de Vries will drive in place of Alex for the remainder of the Italian Grand Prix weekend.
“Alex is in good spirits and the team wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Appendicitis, surgery and no racing isn’t what I was expecting this weekend!
Negatives:
– Missing out on what looks like a strong weekend for us
– PainPositives
– Weight reduction for Singapore
– Cool scars pic.twitter.com/HOfA18eF5W— Alex Albon (@alex_albon) September 10, 2022
De Vries, the 2019 Formula 2 and 2021/22 Formula E champion, is Mercedes’ reserve driver and available to its customer teams if needed.
He is present at Monza, having already taken part in the Monza weekend, albeit at another team.
De Vries drove for Aston Martin in the first Friday practice session, fulfilling one of the team’s mandated rookie outings.
That will speed up his adaptation, which will be further aided by the fact he also drove for Williams in an FP1 earlier this year.
De Vries drove the FW44 in Spain and also participated in FP1 in France for Mercedes.
That makes him probably the most experienced person outside the full-time drivers in terms of 2022 machinery, perhaps with the exception of Nico Hulkenberg, who competed in the first two grands prix weekends for Aston Martin.
This shock call-up is a great chance for de Vries to further his case for a 2023 Williams race seat.
He is a contender to replace Nicholas Latifi, even though he was previously set to undertake a dual FE and World Endurance Championship programme.
De Vries’ open-wheel career
2012 – fifth in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (champion – Stoffel Vandoorne)
2013 – fifth again in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (champion – Pierre Gasly)
2014 – Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion, Formula Renault 2.0 Alps champion
2015 – third in Formula Renault 3.5 (champion – Oliver Rowland)
2016 – sixth in GP3 (champion – Charles Leclerc)
2017 – seventh in F2 (champion – Charles Leclerc)
2018 – fourth in F2 (champion – George Russell)
2019 – F2 champion
2019-20 – 11th in Formula E (champion – Antonio Felix da Costa)
2020-21 – Formula E champion
2021-22 – ninth in Formula E (champion – Stoffel Vandoorne)
