The Mahindra driver finished eighth on-the-road within the first of two Shanghai E-Prix this weekend on the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit in China.
The outcome marks the primary time de Vries has completed within the factors aboard a single-seater since he made his Method 1 debut with Williams on the 2022 Italian Grand Prix, having disillusioned with AlphaTauri final 12 months.
And though he claimed victory at Imola with Toyota in the World Endurance Championship earlier this month, de Vries’s leads to Method E previous to this weekend have been lacklustre.
The Dutchman’s finest outcome had been twelfth, however de Vries admits that he felt no added stress regardless of struggling to seek out his earlier type within the all-electric championship.
“I didn’t actually really feel that weight a lot, as a result of I’m in an awesome surroundings and I really feel very supported,” he stated.
“I really feel that the workforce is behind me and believes in me and everyone knows our limitations and in our state of affairs, to attain factors is sort of a victory and it’s onerous.”
Having began thirteenth, de Vries steadily moved up the order through the 29-lap contest, finally hitting the entrance within the opening phases which marked the primary time he led a Method E race since his title-winning season with Mercedes in 2020-21.
Nyck de Vries, Mahindra Racing
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
His time main was short-lived, nevertheless, as de Vries was nearly instantly advised by his race engineer to concede the place as a way to save vitality within the slipstream of the chasing pack.
“I used to be advised as quickly as I received into the result in give it again as a result of apparently, we don’t need to lead races right here,” stated de Vries.
“We don’t need to be on the entrance, it’s a bit of bit unusual.
“I perceive it wasn’t very environment friendly however equally it’s very counter-intuitive however managing the race when it comes to taking care of vitality, ensuring now we have sufficient to battle and to remain on the market and equally transfer up positions and never drop again is a really powerful battle.
“We’ve received to be sincere, we do have limitations however I feel as a workforce now we have accomplished an awesome job on enhancing and maximising the package deal now we have.”
Regardless of slipping again by the chequered flag, de Vries claimed eighth – which might nicely be improved upon as some drivers forward face post-race penalties and the ultimate classification is but to be printed.