Will De Vries replace Latifi following spectacular Williams debut in Monza?

Nyck de Vries made his Formula 1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix, proving he can perform at the pinnacle of motorsport.

The Dutchman was brought in last-minute to replace full-time driver Alex Albon, who was taken to hospital following appendicitis and therefore was unable to compete on Saturday or Sunday.

De Vries, who had completed FP1 with Aston Martin a day before, was forced to come to grips with the FW44 in FP3, finishing the session in 14th just behind new teammate Nicholas Latifi.

However, it was in Qualifying that the Formula E world champion impressed the paddock. De Vries would break into Q2, something Latifi has only done once this season, and end Saturday with 13th on the grid.

With grid penalties aplenty through the field, he would find himself starting eighth, valiantly defending his spot through the Italian Grand Prix to claim points on his F1 debut.

Speaking about the result to Sky Sports F1 after the race, De Vries said:

“It’s like a dream! Honestly, I didn’t dare to dream such a debut. It’s been a very hectic past 24 hours.

“I didn’t really have much time to think, I had a very bad sleep, it went from excitement into nerves and many different thoughts went through my head.

“I acknowledge we had a little bit of luck with some of the grid penalties and also some of the retirements but sometimes you have to take those and we capitalised on our opportunity and we scored points.

“Nobody can take those away from us. Whatever happens in the future, no-one can take those away from us.”

The result raises the question of whether or not De Vries will be a front-running candidate to replace Latifi next season, who was comprehensively outperformed by the rookie despite the same machinery.

The Canadian has struggled alongside Albon throughout 2022, being the only full-time driver to not feature in the points throughout the campaign.

With De Vries’ performance, it seems a no-brainer based on performance for Latifi to be replaced next year. However, he brings significant funding through his sponsors, something that was vital for the team’s security when he joined the squad full-time in 2020.

However, with new owners Dorilton Capitol providing the financial backing needed to keep the Grove-based outfit alive, it seems that Latifi’s exit is slowly emerging as the season ticks down.

If so, De Vries seems an ideal candidate to join Albon at Williams, but at the age of 28 he could be holding back the team’s junior academy drivers such as Logan Sargeant.

So, if not Williams, where?

Currently, Alpine and Haas seem to be on the hunt for replacements. Alpine are still searching for a replacement for Fernando Alonso after the Spaniard left for Aston Martin, while Mick Schumacher’s future at Haas seems uncertain.

Alpine could be on the cards, with multiple options available to the team for next year. Haas, on the other hand, seem more likely to choose a driver like Antonio Giovinazzi due to the Italian’s links with Ferrari.

Meanwhile, with Daniel Ricciardo currently on the market, who drove for Alpine under their previous name of Renault, De Vries would most likely hold a lower chance due to the Australian’s experience.

As a part of the Mercedes family, Williams seems a more likely destination for De Vries should he enter Formula 1 next season.

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