Helmut Marko backs Nyck de Vries to lead the AlphaTauri F1 team in 2023 and beyond
- Rob Fleming
- 20 October 2022
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has backed Nyck de Vries to lead AlphaTauri during the 2023 Formula 1 campaign.
The 27-year-old De Vries will join AlphaTauri new year alongside Yuki Tsunoda, replacing Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly.
This will be the first time De Vries has raced full-time in F1, but he has had championship wins in Formula E and Formula 2.
Marko thinks that due to De Vries' experience in other motor sport categories as compared to that of the 22-year-old Tsunoda's, he expects the Dutchman to lead the team in 2023.
"Yuki is young and doesn't have this experience and background, so [Nyck] should lead the team," Marko told Motorsport.com.
"We will see how it goes next year, but from the experience and the personality he has, he should be the team leader."
Over a few years, De Vries has worked as a Mercedes reserve driver, which has seen him drive Mercedes-powered powered cars like Williams, Aston Martin and Mercedes.
Marko feels this experience will add a lot to AlphaTauri's performance in 2023.
"Of course, the team will benefit from that," Marko said. "He is reserve driver for nearly every Mercedes team on the grid and he has been in various simulators, and we get this kind experience onboard."
