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You had a implausible debut with Williams final 12 months, ending P9 and being voted driver of the day. Do you assume this achievement resulted in unrealistic expectations?
Well, that’s a wonderful query… Actually, there are all the time expectations in life, no matter what you do. As we reside in a aggressive business, we all the time have to carry out. Perhaps, that race set the expectations even greater. However, I’ve no regrets as a result of I wouldn’t be right here right this moment with out that race in Italy. That’s how issues go; usually, the expectations are very excessive on this class.
Obviously, there are some rumours regarding your future within the staff. How may you consider your efficiency up to now this 12 months?
I’m unhappy with what I’ve proven on the observe. I have to do higher, for positive. There have been moments once I placed on an important efficiency. For instance, the race weekend in Barcelona was good should you have a look at it as an entire. Unfortunately, I wasn’t capable of rating factors. It was a disgrace that I spun twice and misplaced two units of tyres in Q1. However, I nonetheless managed to get to Q2 after ending the primary a part of qualifying in eighth place. It was a weekend the place I ought to’ve scored factors. I additionally missed some alternatives at different race weekends. That’s how it’s; that’s life. You win, you lose, and you’ve got good and dangerous weekends. I attempt to do higher, and that’s it. I have to do my finest on a regular basis.
I want to do higher.
You race alongside Yuki Tsunoda, who has extra expertise in F1. What is the teamwork like with him?
We have an important mutual respect for one another. We’ve recognized one another for a couple of years. On the opposite hand, good relationships don’t occur in a single day. We’re completely different characters, and I’m in a special stage in my life and profession. We enormously respect one another; he’s a superb man and a really gifted driver. He performs very constantly, and he’s swift. He’s proven a reasonably robust efficiency this 12 months.
You arrived at Formula 1 as a world champion in Formula E. For which sporting end result are you the proudest?
Formula 2 gave me essentially the most satisfaction up to now. Everyone has his journey, and the trail you undergo can range. I haven’t regretted something that I’ve carried out up to now. Of course, you have got dangerous days typically. Ultimately, these moments make you stronger, and it’s a part of life. In common, I’m happy with my journey.
How a lot did you study throughout your time with Mercedes?
I do know it’d sound a cliché, however you study each day. Every period in your life has its classes. Everything I’ve carried out and skilled up to now made me the particular person I’m right this moment, together with the 3-4 years at Mercedes and the time at McLaren. Winning, dropping – every little thing contributes to changing into a greater particular person, athlete, and racing driver. I’m nonetheless studying each day.
You don’t construct relationships in a single day.
Do you benefit from the work along with your new efficiency coach, Pyry Salmela. How vital half does he have in your every day life?
I spend quite a lot of time with Pyry, particularly through the season, as a result of that’s when you have got time to construct your health basis. We’re collectively each race weekend, travelling collectively to the circuit and spending time between the periods. We’re all the time collectively, so constructing a superb relationship is vital. As I mentioned earlier than, you’re taking time to construct relationships. Learning from one another and incomes respect and belief takes time; it’s a consistently rising course of. I worth his imaginative and prescient and strategy. We’re working exhausting, and I really feel robust after every exercise. I take pleasure in our work collectively, and he’s a really acknowledged coach within the paddock.
How a lot coaching do you should do through the season? Is it primarily cardio work?
As for me, I don’t have any issues with my weight, and I can enable myself to do extra strengthening coaching to achieve mass. Whereas, should you’re tall and near the burden restrict, you are able to do much less mass constructing, and you should do extra cardio.
We do quite a lot of interval periods as properly. It’s a mix of various coaching varieties. The coaching all the time must be tailor-made for the person. You want to contemplate many parts while you arrange your coaching plan, like what number of simulator and media commitments you have got, and likewise, you want a special coaching plan for a back-to-back race weekend. It’s extra complicated than one from the skin would think about.
I typically converse with Max on WhatsApp and spend some time collectively throughout the race weekends.
You share the identical motorhome along with your fellow countryman, Max Verstappen. How typically do you speak to him?
I typically converse with Max on WhatsApp and spend a while collectively through the race weekends. He’s on the prime of his sport; Max dominates our sport. We’ve recognized one another for a very long time; we respect one another it’s good to talk and share experiences of racing with him. We hit it off, and he’s an encouraging particular person. Support just isn’t the best phrase; we hit it off.
Could you elaborate in your model, StaffNyck?
I’m not concerned within the enterprise aspect. It’s a project of my sister, Seychelle. She likes doing it, and it’s a superb alternative for her to achieve some expertise by organising this new enterprise. She enjoys the accountability; we began it cautiously. We’re constantly in search of alternatives and methods to develop. I belief her, and I’ve confidence in her that she is going to succeed.
The publish ‘I want to do higher’ – Exclusive interview with Nyck de Vries appeared first on Paddock Magazine.
