 Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel feels sorry for Nyck de Vries after he was 'brutally' sacked by Red Bull earlier this week. After an impressive one-off, debut with Williams last season, De Vries finally secured a full-time driver with Red Bull's sister team AlphaTauri for 2023 after years on the sidelines. However, after just 10 races his F1 career looks to be over with Daniel Ricciardo replacing him following a series of underwhelming performances. Many are excited to see the popular Aussie return to the grid but there is also plenty of sympathy for De Vries over the manner in which he was axed, with AlphaTauri barely acknowledging the 28-year-old in their statement. The head of Red Bull's driver development programme Helmut Marko was also typically blunt and harsh when explaining the reasons why he made the decision to get rid of him. Vettel was one of the earliest members of the Red Bull programme, rising through the ranks with AlphaTauri, when they were known as Toro Rosso, before being promoted to the senior team and becoming their first world champion. The German won four straight titles with the team from 2010 to 2013, later taking in spells at Ferrari and Aston Martin, before retiring from the sport last year. Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive F1 titles with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013 (Photo: Getty) He knows just how cut throat the Red Bull system is and such understands DE Vries' plight, telling ITV: 'I have to be honest, it's obviously a shame for Nyck. 'The way it came to an end. I think he got given a great chance, maybe things didn't happen for him the way he expected or people expected but it's also a bit harsh when it comes to a very sudden stop. It's brutal. 'I met him last year for the first time and he seemed like a really good person and he is a good driver. He won the F2 championship, he won international championships so he's well recognised){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel feels sorry for Nyck de Vries after he was ‘brutally’ sacked by Red Bull earlier this week.
After an impressive one-off, debut with Williams last season, De Vries finally secured a full-time driver with Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri for 2023 after years on the sidelines.
However, after just 10 races his F1 career looks to be over with Daniel Ricciardo replacing him following a series of underwhelming performances.
Many are excited to see the popular Aussie return to the grid but there is also plenty of sympathy for De Vries over the manner in which he was axed, with AlphaTauri barely acknowledging the 28-year-old in their statement.