Dutch Formula One driver Nyck de Vries says he got caught in the rainfall and flooding in northern Italy that led to the cancellation of the weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
De Vries said on Instagram early Thursday he was on his way to Faenza on Tuesday evening for an event the next day at the factory of his Alpha Tauri team, but was unable to get to his hotel.
He said he eventually got stranded in a little village where the only hotel was full but he got a room from a mechanic of the McLaren team.
“The following morning, the hotel lobby turned into an emergency shelter for people who were forced to escape their homes during the night,” De Vries said.
“Post F1 (cancellation) announcement, I only saw one potential option to get home, which was driving via Firenze (Florence). After an adventurous drive through the mountains, thanks to the help from local people and authorities in different villages, I finally got home safely.
“Thank you to every single person who has been kind enough to help me. It was truly heart-warming to see so many look out for each other. My thoughts are with those who continue to be affected by this tragedy,” De Vries added.
