Mike Elliott believes the departure of Nyck de Vries to AlphaTauri for next season will be a loss to the Mercedes team. Following an impressive ninth-place result on his Williams debut at this season's Italian GP, De Vries put himself at the forefront of the driver transfer market for 2023. The Dutchman signed for AlphaTauri to replace the Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly , but other interested teams included Alpine and Williams. De Vries' role this season has been as Mercedes test and reserve driver, which opened the doors for driving opportunities for the team, along with the Mercedes-powered Aston Martin and Williams teams. Speaking during the Japanese GP weekend, Mercedes Technical Director Mike Elliott was full of praise for De Vries' abilities and regretted losing him for 2023. "I think most of my time spent with Nyck is actually stood with Toto [Wolff] chatting," Elliott told media. "What you get is a really nice guy, but a guy that's very knowledgeable, who understands the sport, understands engineering and the car. "I think for us as a team, it's a shame to see him go somewhere else but, at the same time really pleased for him, really pleased he's got this opportunity, because it's nice to see a driver with the talent he's got getting that opportunity.
De Vries has 'everything you'd look for' in a driver
The impact made by De Vries on his F1 debut has generated praise from many corners of the paddock, including the Williams team, George Russell and Max Verstappen. The reigning Formula E champion will be making a comparatively late transition from junior categories to F1, having taken the F2 title back in 2019. However, Elliott continued to describe the attributes that makes De Vries an appealing driver for the future. "He just gets in the car and he gets on with it. He doesn't make mistakes," added Elliott. "He quickly gets to a point where he's getting the best out of the car. The feedback he's giving is good. All the things you'd be looking for from a young driver."
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