Nyck De Vries admits it is "very unlikely" that he will be able to remain in Formula E with McLaren as his future remains unclear beyond the current season.
The Formula E champion is into his third season with Mercedes EQ but is currently looking for a way to remain in motorsport, be that in the all-electric series or elsewhere, with talk of a move back to Formula 1 continuing to swirl. De Vries won Formula 2 back in 2019 but, rather than taking the conventional route, opted for a move to Formula E.
A solid first season was followed by a champion performance, and even though his title defence has not gone to plan, the Dutchman still has two victories to his name this season. Mercedes however are leaving the sport with McLaren entering Formula E in their place.
The personnel of the team is likely to remain largely the same with current team principal Ian James reprising his role with the new manufacturer. McLaren are yet to announce their driver line-up but De Vries is not expecting to be part of the new outfit.
The 27-year-old stepped in for Lewis Hamilton during practice at the recent French Grand Prix as speculation continues to mount. Williams, who use a Mercedes power unit, have been touted as a possible destination whilst the retirement of Sebastian Vettel has opened a door at Aston Martin.
De Vries concedes that a seat in Formula 1 is still his ultimate goal, but knows the decisions are out of his hands. He said: "It is of course everyone's dream and everyone's goal. I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the case, but that is out of my control.
"I feel flattered that my name is mentioned but ultimately it is not my call so I just have to focus on my goals on track and we'll see where that goes."
Toto Wolff has admitted that Mercedes may have to let De Vries go in order for him to pursue other goals. He said: “I think if we are not able to provide him with an interesting Formula 1 project, in a way we need to let him go. He’s looking at various options." There would no doubt be a demand for the Dutchman, but he is wise to the limited opportunities in the sport.
He claimed: "I mean Formula E is one of the biggest championships out there. You have WEC and Indy Car, but I always compare this to football. In a team you have 24 players - that is more than an entire Formula 1 grid so the opportunity in professional racing is very small ultimately.
"Everyone is different, everyone walks their own path."
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