Karting roots
Born and raised in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, not far from Circuit Zolder, host of the Belgian Grand Prix when John Watson won for McLaren in 1982, Dries began karting from the age of eight. His potential shone through from an early age as he became the NK Rookie Champion just a year later, in 2019, and the Mini 60 Dutch Champion in 2020. The trophies continued, pricking the ears of the McLaren Driver Development programme, and in 2023, he was crowned world karting champion in the OK Junior class, earning him a spot in the programme.
The team’s faith was repaid as he followed this up with another four title wins, including the European Karting Championship in the OK Junior Class and the WSK Super Masters Series.
“The World Championship and European Championship are the biggest karting championships you could possibly win,” he smiles. “Those were two special and enjoyable years of my career. I had an awesome time with the team, the relationships were really good, and the Championships were really special to win.”
Dries’ continued growth and on-track success convinced the team that he deserved a chance in a single-seater. A comprehensive programme was put in place to assess whether he was ready to take the next step and to support that transition.
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Often discussed is the difficulty of stepping up to F1 from Formula 2 or from Formula 4 to Formula 3, but the jump between a go-kart and a single-seater is massive.
The open-wheel Tatuus F4-T421 cars used in Formula 4 are fitted with a 1.4-litre turbocharged Abarth engine, producing around 185hp, with a top speed over 240km/h. They’re like nothing he’d have ever driven before.
“It’s a bit claustrophobic,” he laughs, when asked about his first experience in the car. “With the belts on, it is super tight, compared to karting, where you are almost completely open.
“It is completely different, and the first time you’re in the car, it is a little weird, but once you are used to it, it feels like you’ve been doing it for years. Karting is not completely different to the world of formula cars, but all of the basics you learn, in terms of how the kart handles and drivers, are completely different to a car. There is a lot to learn the first time. The testing was good. It’s a difficult step, but I enjoyed it.”