BUDAPEST -- Lewis Hamilton was surprised to see Nyck de Vries axed by AlphaTauri after 10 races, but believes that kind of decision is typical of Red Bull's driver programme in Formula One.
De Vries lasted less than half a season at AlphaTauri after Red Bull made the decision to replace him with Daniel Ricciardo from this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix onwards.
The 28-year-old rookie was drafted into the junior Red Bull team at the end of 2022 to replace Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly, but his AlphaTauri career lasted just ten races.
He failed to score a point in that time, but was driving one of the least competitive cars on the grid and being compared to a teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, with two years of F1 experience.
"I was definitely surprised to see the decision they took with poor Nyck," said Hamilton, who has worked with De Vries at Mercedes in the past. "He's such a talented young man and such a nice guy as well.
"I think his future is still bright for him and he'll have lots of great options, I'm sure."
Asked if such a brutal decision is just the way Formula One works, Hamilton responded: "I'd say that's how Red Bull works."
Ricciardo, who had his McLaren contract cut a year short at the end of 2022 and initially planned to spend 2023 as Red Bull's third driver, said he also felt sympathy with de Vries.
"After what I've gone through the last year, but also my age now and just knowing how this sport is, and being a bit more mature, for sure, you feel for other drivers," Ricciardo said. "We put our life's work into this, so it's one of those ones where I do, I feel for Nyck.
"But I feel ... I know in F1 he's not particularly experienced, but in motor racing he is. He's in his late 20s. I feel like he's mature enough to understand the sport, and if he still wants it to work, I think he can get back up and make something happen.
"As I said, I look at me a year ago, I wasn't sure if I'd ever race an F1 car again, and a year later, here I am. Things can happen.
"If he still wants it, keep his chin up. It's one of those ones, like anything in life, you get knocked down, but it's how you get back up. I wish him well, and if I ever saw him on the grid again, I'd be happy."
Ricciardo's move to AlphaTauri appears to have put extra pressure on Sergio Perez, who is currently struggling for form at Red Bull's senior team. The Mexican also had sympathy for De Vries, labelling the decision "brutal", but said it has not changed his situation.
"I feel sorry for Nyck, he had a very short experience," Perez said "It was quite brutal in that regard.
"It was a very short experience in F1 but you never know what the future will hold for him. It's just how it is, you know? This is Formula One.
"On the other hand, I'm happy for Daniel. He's very motivated to be back, so well done to him. It's a great opportunity for him.
"From my side it doesn't change anything because I drive for Red Bull, there's not just Daniel out there. It's Yuki [Tsunoda, Ricciardo's teammate], it's more than half of the grid would like to drive for Red Bull.
"So it doesn't change anything."