F1: If Hamilton does not retire soon, Mercedes will lose Nyck de Vries

Nyck de Vries is the reigning Formula E champion while he has also won the Formula 2 title, but may struggle to land an F1 seat for 2023 with few options available.

Toto Wolff has conceded that he “can’t help” Nyck de Vries in his search for a Formula 1 seat and says Mercedes “may need to let him go”.

De Vries, 27, is a highly rated driver who has Formula E and Formula 2 titles under his belt, and he got a chance to shine in his role as Mercedes reserve at the French GP when filling in for Lewis Hamilton in first practice.

Mercedes boss Wolff is keen to get De Vries a chance on the grid, like George Russell was afforded when a Mercedes reserve, but admitted to Sky Sports F1: “I can’t really help him.

“We can’t tell a team to look at him because that feels like interference, and then it goes the contrary way.”

Wolff also said that without an F1 seat, it may be time to release De Vries, who won the Formula E title for Mercedes last year.

“I think if we can not provide him with an interesting Formula 1 project, in a way we need to let him go,” he said after practice on Friday.

“He’s looking at various options, sportscars, maybe Formula E, but you just must never give up on the opportunity that one day a Formula 1 door can open. Today was very, very good.”

De Vries finished ninth in first practice at Paul Ricard, just half a second down on Russell.