until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Within the Formula E paddock there has already been a feeling of high expectation that Nyck de Vries will be back come 2024 – one that will surely only be heightened in Rome this weekend now that the 2021 FE world champion is out of the AlphaTauri Formula 1 team after just 10 grands prix.
Where in Formula E he will be, though, is less clear.
There appear to be two berths most likely for De Vries as it stands: Nissan or Maserati MSG.
Maserati is the team that De Vries was in line to race for in Formula E this season, only for AlphaTauri to snatch him away last September off the back of his points-scoring F1 debut at Monza with Williams.
Following his departure from AlphaTauri, it would appear that de Vries will pursue a manufacturer seat in Formula E and perhaps similar in the World Endurance Championship, having also been in line for a 2023 Toyota WEC drive alongside that Maserati deal prior to his F1 move.
Nissan could have a free FE seat should it not renew Norman Nato’s deal this summer. But should De Vries want to undertake a dual programme, as he would have done this year, he may need to replicate what Sebastien Buemi achieved between 2018 and 2022. That is to represent two rival Japanese manufacturers, Nissan and Toyota.
The Race understands that a cut-and-paste of his original 2023 plan of racing for Maserati MSG and Toyota is unlikely as the Formula E team has Edoardo Mortara already under contract and an option on Maximilian Guenther, who has brought Maserati the majority of its points this season and its first win.
Additionally, current Aston Martin F1 reserve driver Felipe Drugovich is of strong interest to Maserati to possibly take Guenther’s seat for 2024 if he wants to compete in Formula E. The reigning F2 champion will run for a second time with the team in the dedicated rookie-only practice session in Rome this Friday.
Any notion of de Vries hooking up again with his former team, the Mercedes squad that since his departure has morphed into McLaren, is unlikely. It is expected to continue with Rene Rast and Jake Hughes for the 2024 season.
Some big pieces of the Formula E jigsaw will fall into place later this month. The future of one of its seven previous champions could be among them.
