The difference in ages of Max Verstappen and Nyck de Vries is that of just 3 years. However, their careers took very different trajectories. Max showed his excellence from a very young age and became the youngest ever driver, at 17, to start a race in F1. It took de Vries 10 more years than that to start his first. However, when he did, he instantly became a hot property. Living under Lewis Hamilton‘s shadow at Mercedes as a reserve driver until then, he grabbed the opportunity when AlphaTauri showed interest in him to replace Pierre Gasly in 2023. The Brackley-based team now regrets letting him go, realizing that he might replace Sergio Perez soon and pose a threat to them.

Perez, despite delivering his career-best performance in the recently concluded season, is going through some nervy times with Red Bull. His falling out with Max at Interlagos sparked a fiery debate that only got hotter with Daniel Ricciardo’s arrival as the reserve driver. The argument that his seat is in danger has been amplified further after Mercedes Chief Engineer Andrew Shovlin’s comments.

In the book ‘Max & Nyck’ by Ivo Pakvis and Stijn Keuris, they quoted Shovlin as saying, “We might regret letting him go.” [Translated using Google]

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him in the Red Bull factory team soon. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if that happens in the next twelve months or so.”

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Despite not racing against or with each other, Max and Nyck share a special bond. As special as brothers, the AlphaTauri rookie reckons.

Nyck de Vries considers Max Verstappen as his “big brother”

When it comes to age, de Vries is 3 years older than Max, but in terms of racing experience, the reigning champion is light years ahead. Nyck is not afraid to acknowledge that when he talks about how much he reveres his Dutch counterpart. He revealed that and much more in a recent interview with AlphaTauri.

De Vries said, “Max and I have known each other since a very young age, as we grew up karting at a similar time, although we’ve never actually raced against each other.”

“We’re obviously from the same country, speak the same language and we just get along. Despite the fact that I’m older, it almost feels like Max is my big brother within the Formula 1 paddock, he’s obviously achieved a lot and has so much experience already.”

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Given how quickly things change in F1, it would be futile to predict where Nyck will land in 2024. However, nothing can ever be ruled out in this crazy sport.