Nyck de Vries
A champion in electric racing who seized a dramatic F1 debut, embodying the relentless hustle of a modern motorsport journeyman.
Born 1995 (age 31)·Dutch racing driver·Birthday: February 6·Millennials
Biography
Nyck de Vries has carved a path that defines the global, multi-discipline reality of 21st-century racing. A winner from karts to Formula 2, his career seemed perpetually on the cusp of Formula One, a dream he watched peers achieve while he excelled elsewhere. That elsewhere was Formula E, where his calculated, consistent driving secured a World Championship for Mercedes-EQ, proving his elite racecraft. His long-awaited F1 debut came in chaotic, storybook fashion: a last-minute call-up for Williams in 2022, where he scored points immediately. That performance finally earned him a full-time seat, though it proved brief. Unfazed, de Vries pivoted back to the endurance racing world, joining Toyota's top Hypercar program, showcasing the adaptability and resilience required to thrive at racing's highest levels today.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Nyck was born in 1995, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nyck Was Born
The biggest hits of 1995
#1 Movie
Toy Story
Best Picture
Braveheart
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Nyck's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1995Born
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2000Started school
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2008Became a teenager
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Could drive
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2013Could vote
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Turned 21
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2025Turned 30
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 31 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2020–21 Formula E World Championship driving for Mercedes-EQ.
- Scored championship points in his Formula One debut, finishing ninth for Williams at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix.
- Claimed the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship title.
- Is a race winner in the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Did You Know?
He is fluent in four languages: Dutch, English, French, and Italian.
He served as a test and reserve driver for multiple F1 teams (Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin) before his race debut.
His first name, 'Nyck', is a Frisian short form of 'Hendrik'.
He won the prestigious Karting World Championship in 2010 and 2011.
“You have to be ready when the opportunity comes, even if you wait a long time.”
