MOTORSPORT

Alex Albon will return to the F1 grid next year in a Williams, having had a season out to reflect on being dropped from Red Bull ’s second seat. Edd Straw meets up with him

Few reach Formula 1, and of those who do, most get only one shot and never have the chance to compete in a race-winning car. Alex Albon had his one chance, initially with Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) and then the main Red Bull team in 2019-2020, but was left on the sidelines this year having not made the most of his opportunity in machinery capable of winning in the hands of team-mate Max Verstappen.

That might have been the end for him in F1, but the 25-year-old London-born Thai (his preferred description) spent 2021 as Red Bull’s reserve driver alongside racing in the DTM and returns to action with Williams next year, having been signed to replace Mercedes-bound George Russell. It’s an initial one-year deal, although Red Bull also retains options on him for the future.

“Plan A was always Formula 1, but I made sure I had options lined up in case that wasn’t available,” says Albon. “I looked at Indycar and there was also Formula E, but in terms of what I enjoy doing, it became clear to me that it’s F1. There was a lot of talk in the media about Williams and Alfa Romeo and I was relatively confident in the background.

I had my first discussions with Jost [Capito, Williams CEO] and things were looking pretty good. Like everything in Formula 1, once decisions get made, it all happens very quickly, and within a few weeks it was all done.”