ART Grand Prix has announced Nyck de Vries as its second driver for the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship.
The Dutchman is confirmed after the team revealed Nikita Mazepin as its first signing on Tuesday. De Vries moves from Prema to ART for his third year in the championship – returning to the French team after having competed with them in GP3 Series.
“I’m grateful to ART Grand Prix for giving me this opportunity to continue my career in Formula 2,” said de Vries. “We have a long history together; our relationship has always been great and it feels like coming home.
“We also have unfinished business and I’m happy to have the opportunity to try to finish it next year in Formula 2 where our goal will be to be crowned champions.” De Vries had a challenging but fruitful year in 2018.
He finished fourth with 202 points, scoring three wins and six podiums in all. ART will be his fourth team in F1’s junior ladder as he started with Rapax after which he moved to Racing Engineering in the same season before racing for Prema.
Team boss Sebastien Philippe added: “I am very happy that the paths of Nyck and ART Grand Prix are crossing once again. His experience, his seriousness and his top speed make him one of the natural leaders in Formula 2.
“Since our first partnership in GP3, we have seen him progress in all areas, both sporting and personal and he has all the qualities that will allow him to achieve his greatest ambitions and that of the company, namely securing both titles in Formula 2 in 2019.”
2019 F2 line-up so far:
ART Grand Prix – Nyck de Vries & Nikita Mazepin
Prema – Mick Schumacher
Carlin – Nobuharu Matsushita