Nyck de Vries has said that he is “definitely for” the possibility of the long-awaited Attack Charge feature to be implemented in FIA Formula E for the forthcoming 11th season.
The Dutchman, who helped lift the covers of his Mahindra team’s new M11Electro yesterday, says he is keen for the feature finally being put in place after much background checking and teasing, and will first be in evidence to fans at the upcoming pre-season test in Valencia on November 7th.
When asked by Motorsport Week whether he is excited at the possibility like other drivers appear to be, de Vries said: “So am I.
“When something like that is introduced in the racing, I think it should be properly tested and robust.
“Because it’s a too professional championship to be rushing something that isn’t ready. I’m definitely for it, because I think it makes sense and it’s relevant for what EV vehicles require in practical terms and in the real world.”
Speaking about the Indian outfit’s new car and livery, de Vries said: “I genuinely think it’s awesome. I really love it. Last night was the first time I actually got to see it, I didn’t see any previews, pictures, whatever. And yeah, I think the design is really nice. I like it.
“I think the black elements of carbon are cool. It’s a bit of weight saving.”
Bertrand praises ‘spirit’ of Mahindra drivers
Team Principal Frederic Bertrand was full of praise for de Vries and team-mate Edoardo Mortara, and believes that both men are the right drivers to take the team forward after what was a difficult Season 10.
“They didn’t come here to shine individually and say ‘oh it’s me’ or they think this part of their career is done they had their moment of glory and blah blah.
“What they were looking for was a spirit in which we can be part of building a project and this is what they get. The second thing they bring is definitely a high level of knowledge of high performance and that’s also what I wanted.
“Sometimes a rookie might be very interesting in terms of performance because they are really good, the guys coming like F2 drivers, now you put them in the career path, but the knowledge and the understanding of having raced in teams where you have managed to be winner in Formula E was something we were missing so I needed that type of additional experience.
“The third third aspect is they are constructive so they never they complain for sure but they never destroy and that’s also something which is for me very important because when you are already in the hard moment and you struggle an additional destruction uh line is not helping at that moment you really need the guy to come and say ‘no no it’s okay guys that’s part of the game I know’.
“They have that type of spirit and the way they work together is very complementary.”
