Hendrik Johannes Nicasius de Vries secured a career-defining victory at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans while driving for Toyota. A versatile competitor from the Netherlands, he established his credentials through a methodical ascent from karting world championships to becoming a Formula E World Champion and a short-term entrant in the Formula One grid.
Early Development and Karting
Born on 6 February 1995 in Uitwellingerga, Friesland, de Vries began his competitive driving career at the age of nine. His progression through karting was marked by consistent dominance in international categories. He captured the WSK World Series and German Junior Championship in 2008, retaining both titles in 2009 while also winning the European KF3 Championship. This period culminated in back-to-back Karting World Championship victories in 2010 and 2011, establishing him as a top prospect within the McLaren Young Driver Programme.
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De Vries entered single-seater racing in 2012 with the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series, finishing fifth overall and securing podium finishes at Alcañiz and the Hungaroring. His development continued through the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with DAMS in 2015, where he placed third, and the GP3 Series in 2016. In 2017, he debuted in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. After seasons with Rapax and Prema Racing, he returned to ART Grand Prix in 2019 to secure the Formula 2 championship title, having recorded four victories throughout that campaign.
Professional Racing and Formula One
The transition to professional endurance and electric racing saw de Vries join the Mercedes Formula E team in 2019, where he achieved his maiden World Championship in his second season. Concurrently, he engaged in sportscar racing with Racing Team Nederland and G-Drive. His Formula One opportunity arrived in 2022 at the Italian Grand Prix, where he substituted for Alexander Albon and earned points on debut. He held a full-time seat with AlphaTauri for the first ten rounds of the 2023 season. Since 2025, he has served as a simulator and test driver for McLaren.
Current Endurance and Electric Campaigns
Following his Formula One stint, de Vries returned to Formula E for the 2023–24 campaign with Mahindra. His endurance career reached a pinnacle in 2024 when he signed with Toyota for the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, taking a win at the 6 Hours of Imola before his victory at Le Mans in 2026.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 February 1995, Uitwellingerga
- Formula 2 Champion: 2019
- Formula E World Champion: 2020–21
- 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner: 2026
- F1 Grand Prix Appearances: 11
- Nationality: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Questions readers ask
Which Formula One teams has Nyck de Vries driven for?
He competed for Williams as a substitute in 2022 and for AlphaTauri during the 2023 season.
What major endurance race did de Vries win in 2026?
He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving for Toyota.
Achievements
- Competed at 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Discipline: auto racing
