De Vries handed McLaren F1 test

Nyck de Vries, together with Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, recently seized the constructors' title in WEC (World Endurance Championship), in the final race of the season.

However, the Dutchman did not have to wait long for his outing in a racing car, and not as part of Formula E pre-season testing, where he drives for Mahindra. 

This past weekend, the 29-year-old was spotted at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France, driving a 2022 McLaren MCL36 F1 car.

RacingNews365 understands that this was not a tyre test set up by Pirelli, but rather a TPC (testing of previous cars) run.

For cars at least two years old, there are virtually no testing restrictions. For example, Mercedes put together a comprehensive testing programme to prepare Kimi Antonelli for his F1 debut next year.

Previously, Alpine readied Oscar Piastri for life in F1, before the Australian ultimately made the switch to McLaren.

The how and why of the test is unclear. However, current McLaren reserve driver, and F2 drivers' championship leader, Gabriel Bortoleto is headed to Stake at the end of the season, and De Vries was previously part of McLaren's training programme.