Nyck de Vries has seen every thing there’s to see in motorsport.
From rising up the karting ranks, to successful a championship in Components E, to competing in Components 1, and now successful on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the driving force has skilled the highs and the lows of the racing world. He is aware of what it takes to win, each inside and outdoors the automotive, and has his eyes set on a robust end to the 2025-2026 Components E season.
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Forward of the upcoming Components E race, the Sanya ePrix, SB Nation caught up with the veteran driver to speak about what it takes to win, on and off the observe.
Be aware: This was performed previous to de Vries, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and the #7 Toyota Hypercar successful the celebrated endurance race in Le Mans.
The 2026 Components E season
As famous above, de Vries secured a title again within the 2020-2021 season, as he gained the Drivers’ Championship and was a part of the Mercedes-EQ crew that secured the Groups’ Championship. Throughout that season, de Vries secured wins in Saudi Arabia and Spain, and secured sufficient factors over the season to assert his first title.
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This season has seen some combined outcomes for the veteran driver, now in his third season with Mahindra Racing. He secured a win on the Monaco ePrix, taking the primary race of the double-header on that well-known circuit for his first victory within the collection since 2022. Because the Components E grid heads to Sanya for this weekend’s ePrix, he sits in tenth place within the Drivers’ Championship standings, with Mahindra third within the Groups’ Championship race.
We started with a dialogue of the 2026 Components E season to date.
“The start of the season was difficult on my facet of the storage, however total the crew’s efficiency has been very sturdy. It was all the time encouraging to see Edoardo [Mortara] scoring factors and displaying the tempo we had as a crew,” started the driving force.
“We’ve had a couple of bumps within the highway and located ourselves on the receiving finish of some unlucky circumstances, however that’s a part of racing, particularly in a championship as aggressive as Components E. Regardless of that, our total efficiency stage has been persistently good.
“Executing races stays one of many largest challenges in Components E, however as a crew we needs to be happy with the place we’re. In fact, I’d have favored to attain extra factors personally, however there are nonetheless loads of races left and Monaco was a constructive step ahead. Hopefully we are able to carry that momentum by way of the remainder of the season.”
As for that win in Monaco, de Vries indicated it was “particular,” for a number of causes.
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“Successful in Monaco is particular for a lot of causes. It was our first victory collectively as a crew, the crew’s first win of the GEN3 period, and my first Components E win since returning to the championship,” outlined de Vries.
“If there’s one race each driver desires to win throughout a season, it’s Monaco. Having the ability to do it there made it much more significant. It’s additionally a spot that seems like house to me, so having household, pals, and plenty of of our crew visitors there to share the second made it extremely particular for all of us.”
What it takes to be a race automotive driver
Each probability I get to interview a driver, I be certain that to ask this query.
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“What’s the hardest factor about being a race automotive driver?”
That led to one among my favourite items throughout my time at SB Nation, . However I nonetheless ask that query, as I did with de Vries.
He pointed to “consistency” in his reply.
“The toughest factor is consistency,” replied de Vries. “Like something on the highest stage, the competitors is extremely sturdy and everyone seems to be pushing very arduous. Performing persistently, and performing persistently on the highest stage, is what makes the distinction. That’s in all probability the largest problem in our sport.”
We then turned to coaching, each offseason and in-season. With a schedule that features each Components E and driving within the World Endurance Championship, how does de Vries put together within the offseason?
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“I really feel very privileged to do what I really like for a dwelling. Throughout the offseason, a giant a part of my focus is just attempting to enhance in each space, whether or not that’s bodily, mentally, or working extra intently with the crew and engineers,” began the driving force.
However then, maybe within the spirit of Components E, he outlined what he does to “recharge” away from the observe.
“I benefit from the technique of all the time on the lookout for these small beneficial properties and enhancements. That’s what motivates me. On the identical time, I do make room for issues exterior racing. I get pleasure from enjoying golf and I’ve been taking piano classes after I’m house, which helps me recharge,” added de Vries.
With a schedule that may take a toll, restoration is essential.
For de Vries, that begins along with your finest good friend.
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Sleep.
“Restoration is extraordinarily essential, particularly with the quantity of journey we do. For me, sleep is your finest good friend,” began de Vries.
“It sounds easy, however if you happen to deal with your sleep and restoration, you possibly can deal with loads bodily and mentally. With such a busy schedule, it requires some self-discipline and planning, nevertheless it’s a crucial a part of having the ability to carry out persistently all year long.”
Discovering the suitable steadiness is essential as effectively. Drivers are tasked with loads in the course of the season, from their duties off the observe — together with interviews like this one — in addition to their time on the observe. For de Vries, whereas the “work-life steadiness” is private, the truth that he loves what he does makes it simple.
“For me, work-life steadiness may be very private. I don’t want a number of time away from racing to recharge as a result of I genuinely benefit from the course of,” shared de Vries.
“Throughout the season, it’s about staying bodily match, persevering with to work with the crew, and all the time on the lookout for methods to enhance. Between racing, simulator work, journey, media obligations, and engineering conferences, there’s all the time one thing happening, however whenever you’re keen about what you do, it doesn’t actually really feel like work.”
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We additionally mentioned, of all issues, neck power. Anybody who has adopted motorsport has in all probability seen footage of drivers coaching their necks, to deal with the G-forces contained in the automotive. That features coaching with neck harness units, that look extra like medieval torture units than the rest.
As a quick apart, I inquired with a Components 1 crew about utilizing a kind of units at a race for a narrative, they usually politely declined, for legal responsibility causes. Even with my provide to signal any waivers they put in entrance of me. So, take that for what it’s value …
De Vries outlined for me why that coaching is critically essential, and the way “bodily demanding” it’s contained in the automotive.
“The G-forces in Components E aren’t fairly as excessive as they’re in Components One, however neck power remains to be extremely essential,” began de Vries.
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“Your neck is among the few elements of your physique that isn’t actually supported within the automotive, so drivers spend a number of time coaching it. There are numerous units and workout routines we use all year long to maintain our necks sturdy sufficient to deal with the masses we expertise throughout racing.
“It’s undoubtedly demanding, and I don’t suppose most individuals absolutely admire how bodily difficult these forces may be. However like something, when you’re accustomed to it and prepare usually, your physique adapts.”
We additionally talked about jet lag, a hidden hurdle on this planet of motorsport. On the 2024 United States Grand Prix I spoke with Tom Clark, Esteban Ocon’s efficiency coach, about how he helps the Components 1 driver deal with jet lag, amongst different subjects. It applies within the Components E world as effectively, due to a schedule that takes drivers and groups from Miami to China and spots in between.
De Vries described his strategy as “pretty easy.”
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“There’s no actual secret to jet lag. Everybody has their very own strategy, however mine is pretty easy,” began the Dutch driver.
“As quickly as I get on the airplane, I attempt to modify mentally to the time zone of wherever we’re going subsequent. Physiologically, your physique can solely adapt so rapidly, so that you’re all the time combating the percentages a bit bit.
“For flyaway races, I take advantage of melatonin to assist with sleep, and I attempt to train as quickly as doable after arriving. Past that, I don’t have any magic tips. It’s principally about adapting rapidly and staying disciplined along with your routine.”
Lastly, what in regards to the psychological facet of the game?
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To listen to de Vries inform it, all the preparation course of, together with the bodily coaching, creates a “constructive cycle” when you climb into the automotive.
“Plenty of the preparation begins lengthy earlier than we arrive on the observe. We spend time within the simulator, assessment earlier occasions, work by way of upcoming challenges with the engineers, and undergo in depth preparation conferences.
“I don’t have a selected mental-training routine, however I think about that complete preparation course of to be a part of my psychological preparation,” continued de Vries.
“Components E race days are intense as a result of every thing occurs in a single day. Personally, I like that as a result of it doesn’t go away a lot room for distractions. Should you’ve ready correctly, you arrive assured and targeted, and that creates a constructive cycle heading into competitors.”
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I did have one ultimate query for de Vries on this common matter.
What would he say to those that assert that drivers will not be athletes?
De Vries outlined that whereas persons are actually entitled to their opinion, he is aware of the bodily calls for of the game, and he is aware of the work that’s required to carry out at his stage.
“Actually, it doesn’t hassle me,” began de Vries.
“I do know what we do and I do know the bodily calls for of the game. Most individuals perceive that racing drivers are athletes, but when somebody thinks otherwise, that’s their opinion they usually’re entitled to it.
“For me, the essential factor is realizing the work that goes into acting at this stage.”
Because the interview drew to an in depth, we turned to the remainder of the Components E season.
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This weekend, the grid is in China, for the Sanya ePrix. That’s the first of two race weekends in China, because the grid will head to Shanghai for the Shanghai ePrix in early July.
Following that, two extra race weekends stay, one in Tokyo and the season finale in London.
What are de Vries’ expectations for the remainder of the Components E season?
The driving force hopes each he and the crew are “aggressive” because the season attracts to an in depth.
“In Components E, it’s all the time tough to have agency expectations as a result of the championship is so aggressive and issues can change in a short time from race to race. Completely different groups and drivers are inclined to carry out higher at completely different circuits, and we’ve seen all through the season that even beginning close to the again doesn’t essentially stop you from combating for a robust consequence,” started de Vries.
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“Looking forward to Sanya, Shanghai, Tokyo, and London, our goal is just to stay aggressive on the entrance and proceed scoring sturdy factors for the crew championship. We all know we’ve a fast automotive, and Monaco confirmed what we’re able to when every thing comes collectively.
“If we are able to proceed executing effectively and maximizing alternatives, I’m optimistic about what we are able to obtain over the rest of the season.”
