Former F1 star makes surprise return with McLaren

Nyck de Vries returned to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car this week with the 31-year-old Dutchman completing a two-day test session for McLaren in Jerez.

The 31-year-old star, formerly with Williams and AlphaTauri, completed 69 laps in the MCL39 car - the car McLaren raced during the 2025 world championship.

It was the first time de Vries appeared this year under McLaren’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program. He has been working behind the scenes as McLaren’s regular test and development driver for some time and often puts in many hours in the simulator to help prepare Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for upcoming Grands Prix.

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Valuable data collection at Jerez

The mileage logged at Jerez was crucial for McLaren to verify the correlation between their virtual simulator environment and real on-track conditions. After his sessions, De Vries expressed his enthusiasm about reconnecting with the car.

“It’s great to be back with the team, and what an experience it was to drive the MCL39,” he said.

“This car holds an important place in the team’s history, and it was amazing to be back out on the Jerez circuit.”

De Vries emphasised that these kinds of test sessions are invaluable for the work he carries out away from the track.

“Thanks to the team. It’s always beneficial to spend time on track because it supports the work I do as a test and development driver,” explained the former Formula E champion.

Alongside his McLaren commitments, De Vries also competes regularly in Formula E and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Fornaroli wraps up testing season

De Vries wasn’t the only driver on track at Jerez with Leonardo Fornaroli, McLaren’s official reserve driver and reigning Formula 2 champion, also taking part.

Fornaroli arrived fresh from Brazil, where he had just driven in the first practice session at Interlagos. At Jerez, he completed 58 laps, marking his seventh and final TPC outing of the year.

Due to mixed weather conditions, Fornaroli initially ran on intermediate tires before switching to soft slicks for several long runs.

“It was fantastic to be back in the MCL39. It’s such a fun car to drive,” he said.

“I’m happy with the progress I’ve made since my first F1 test in February. My driving style and approach have improved a lot, thanks to the support from the team.”

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