Toto Wolff gives honest update on Nyck de Vries' F1 chances

Toto Wolff has said that Mercedes will have to think about letting Nyck de Vries go if they cannot offer him a more solid F1 opportunity soon.

The Dutch driver got behind the wheel of the Mercedes W13 on Friday afternoon, as he took part in FP1 at the French Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton watching on instead of driving himself.

He posted the ninth-fastest time during the session, too, as Merc look to try and close the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari as we enter the second half of the campaign.

Naturally, though, there’s also interest in de Vries’ future as a driver as he has skirted around the edge of F1 for a while as a part of Mercedes’ programme but without ever getting a full-time drive.

A Formula 2 and Formula E champion, it’s clear that the Dutchman has talent but getting into Formula 1 is a difficult business even if that is the case, and Toto Wolff admits that Mercedes might have to release him soon if they cannot themselves offer him a chance in F1, which is obviously dependant on Lewis Hamilton and George Russell:

“I think if we’re not able to provide him with an interesting Formula 1 project, we need to let him go,” Wolff told Sky.

“He’s looking at the various options, sports cars and then maybe Formula E. But you must never give up on the opportunity that one day a Formula 1 door can open.

“We can’t really tell any team to look at him and consider him, because that would be felt like an interference, and that goes the contrary way.”