Tsunoda: Nick learned to drive close to the walls in Formula E

Yuki Tsunoda’s new teammate this season is Nick de Vries, a 28-year-old Dutchman with a wealth of experience in other racing series, the 2021 Formula E champion. But according to Japanese driver AlphTauri, his working relationship with Nick is not the same as in the case of Pierre Gasly, with whom he got on well.

“Nick is fine. We became friends even before we started performing on the same team,” said Yuki, who participated in the Beyond The Grid podcast. – We’ve probably been friends for three years, but I’ve known him since the time of karting, and we met on the plane when we flew together to Monaco.

I knew from the press that Nick has won a lot of championships and I had some information about him. But we hadn’t crossed paths before and he made himself felt for the first time when I won pole position in Formula 2. Then he congratulated me through social networks – I did not expect this, and after that I began to be interested in his affairs, and we corresponded a little. But three years ago we spoke to him in person for the first time in Monaco.

On urban circuits he drives with excellent accuracy, close to the walls – I think he learned this in Formula E. I am also impressed with how much quality feedback he gives to the team. He knows how to notice all the nuances and gives us very detailed information about the behavior of the car. I learned a lot from him and still do.

But it’s clear that our relationship with Nick is different, not the same as with Gasly. With Pierre they were as sincere and open as possible, he was more like a brother to me. Perhaps our relationship was even too open at times. I really enjoyed working with him. But with Nick, everything is fine with us, we often laugh at each other. We are really good friends, sometimes eat together, and have also explored the sights of Melbourne together.

But as soon as we put on helmets, we just become rivals. I don’t think there should be any tension in our relationship, although at least the partner remains the rider you most want to beat, and such an attitude is inevitable…”