2019 F2 Champion De Vries handed Mercedes F1 Reserve Driver role

Mercedes have announced that 2019 Formula 2 Champion Nyck de Vries will join 2015 GP2 Champion Stoffel Vandoorne as the team’s two Formula 1 reserve drivers.

De Vries scored four wins and 12 podiums on his way to the F2 title in 2019 and was snapped up by Mercedes’ Formula E team, alongside Vandoorne.

The 26-year-old won for the first time in FE last weekend, taking a lights-to-flag victory in the season-opening Diriyah E-Prix on the Friday.

The role will be the Dutchman’s first official position in F1 and follows his first official F1 test, after he partnered Vandoorne in the Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi rookie test at Yas Marina.

"We also have a strong reserve driver line-up for the 2021 season, with Stoffel Vandoorne continuing in the role alongside his Mercedes team-mate in Formula E, Nyck de Vries," said Mercedes in a press release unveiling the W12 car.