Dutch driver and reigning Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries will take part in FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix as Williams become the first team to fulfill one of the two mandatory sessions in 2022 where a rookie must be put in the car for opening practice.

The 27-year-old Dutchman – who scored his second win of the current Formula E season in Berlin yesterday – is no stranger to F1 cars as he drove for Mercedes in the post-season tests at Abu Dhabi in 2020 and 2021.

As well as his success in Formula E, de Vries won the FIA Formula 2 championship by 52 points from current Williams driver Nicholas Latifi in 2019. He’ll be driving alongside the Canadian on Friday as he takes the seat of Alex Albon.

Nyck de Vries: Firstly, I’d really like to thank Williams for the opportunity to run in FP1. It’s great for me to get to know the team and drive the FW44, and also to get myself out on track during a Formula One weekend. Preparation for the test is going well so far and the team have been incredibly supportive of me. I’m very much looking forward to the whole experience in Spain.

Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance:

“We are looking forward to having Nyck de Vries in the car for FP1 as it is always good to work with a new driver and get a fresh opinion on the car's strengths and weaknesses. Nyck's experience and professionalism will be crucial on Friday as he will complete some of the key engineering tests in FP1 before he hands the car back to Alex for FP2.”

Sven Smeets, Sporting Director: “I’m looking forward to seeing Nyck join the team for FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix. As he is a very talented and experienced driver I have no doubt that he’ll maximise his time in the FW44 and deliver a strong, capable performance for the team.”

 

 

 

 

 

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