Nyck de Vries is not worried that he was overlooked to run at next week’s post-Hungarian Grand Prix test, with the Dutchman’s priority the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2017.
The McLaren Formula 1 Junior driver is the only one of that programme not to be testing at the Hungaroring, with the McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team themselves testing Lando Norris, while the Sauber F1 Team are running Nobuharu Matsushita.
However, his future has yet to be decided, especially when joining the Formula 2 field this season with Rapax was a last minute deal, although it has already taken him to the top step of the podium when he won the Sprint race at Monaco.
De Vries admits that should he remain in Formula 2 for a second season, the likelihood will be that he would have to win the title in order to be in with a shot of promotion to F1.
“I think for me the priority is supposed to be, first of all, to do well in Formula 2,” said de Vries to Motorsport.com. “Let’s see what happens next year and where I will be, but if I would be in Formula 2, then obviously I would have to win it to make a chance [in F1].
“I think that’s the only way to put yourself in a position to earn a chance. In this world things change so quickly… I don’t know. I mean, I’m not even looking that far ahead, I don’t think it makes much sense, because things change quickly and you’re only as good as your last race.
“My path has already changed many times in different directions than I was planning to or expecting to, so it doesn’t make sense to look that far ahead at the moment.”
De Vries admits that getting into Formula 1 next season is likely to be difficult for young drivers, with the majority of the field likely to be retained by their respective teams, and even those who are not kept on are likely to switch to other outfits.
“Formula 1 in general should try and give young drivers a bit more chances, because I think they are proving they are not less performant than drivers who have been there for many years,” said de Vries.
“It looked like next year could become an interesting season with many seat changes, but at the moment it looks like nothing will really change.
“I mean, there might be a few swaps but not as much as everyone was hoping and expecting.”
