Hamilton, Vettel come to defence of De Vries after 'brutal' axing

Two of the most prominent Formula 1 drivers in the sport's history came out in defense of ousted AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries.

The Dutchman was unceremoniously relieved of his driving duties after just 10 races, with parent company Red Bull's management team opting to cut ties with the underperforming driver.

Now, Lewis Hamilton and former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel came to De Vries' defence, saying that news of the ousting came as a surprise. De Vries has since been replaced by Red Bull reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is on loan for the season's remaining 12 races.

"I am not surprised to see Daniel back, but I was surprised to see the decision they took for poor Nyck," Hamilton said at the press conference ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"He is such a talented young man and a nice guy. The future is bright for him, and there will be opportunities for the future. But that is how Red Bull do it."

Vettel shares Hamilton's sentiments, admitting that such a cut can be brutal.

"I'm very happy for Daniel, very happy. I like him," the four-time F1 champion said.

"On the other hand, you have to be honest as well. It's obviously a shame for Nyck, the way it comes to an end. I think he was 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 like that. It's brutal."

De Vries speaks out

The 28-year-old De Vries, one of three rookies in 2023, took a few days before having his say on the matter, only speaking out on Instagram more than a week after his axing.

Expectedly, the decision is a major disappointment, but the Dutchman will overcome the "hurt".

"I would like to thank Red Bull and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the