Why Albon won't wait for a possible chance at Red Bull
General
- Ludo van Denderen
Helmut Marko had not failed to notice someone last season. Alexander Albon, the Thai driver he had sent away from Red Bull Racing just a few years earlier, was enjoying such a strong year in '23 that the Austrian team's advisor cautiously philosophised about a comeback for the Williams driver. "But he still has an ongoing contract," was Marko's conclusion at the time.
Until 2025, Albon was stuck with Williams at the time, which might have made the Thai an option for Red Bull in '26 - when the new regulations come into force. A line can now be drawn through that thought as well. Albon and Williams announced on Wednesday that the partnership had been extended "for several years". For the British team, it makes sense that they wanted to keep Albon (after all, there is no better option available to Williams at first sight). For the driver himself, the logic of the contract extension is somewhat more nuanced.
Albon would not be out of place at Alpine and Audi
The '23 Albon would certainly have been an interesting option for a lot of teams as a free agent, once his contract runs out at the end of next year. At a factory team like Alpine or Audi, the Thai would certainly not have looked out of place, and as Sergio Perez's successor at Red Bull, too, Albon - now more experienced than during his first stint alongside Max Verstappen - would undoubtedly have been a strong force. So why the rush to already extend a contract that expires at the end of '25?
There are several reasons for this. First of all, the Albon of '23 is not the Albon of '24. Whereas the Thai regularly managed to finish in the top 10 last season, he has not yet managed to pick up a point this year. Partly because Albon has not (yet) managed to excel as he did in '23, and partly because the Williams currently lacks the qualities to compete in the top 10.
F1 teams want to be stable
Moreover, Albon might have realised that many F1 teams are currently trying to fix their driver line-up for '25 AND '26. Indeed, with the upcoming rule change, the teams find it important to have continuity, at least in terms of driver composition. Albon may have considered: 'If I can't move up this winter because of my ongoing contract, I won't be able to at the end of '25 either'.
In doing so, he may be throwing away the chance of a seat at Red Bull, which - if Perez is allowed to stay - is unlikely to offer the Mexican more than a one-year contract. That could provide an opening for '26. But waiting for that is a nice gamble. What if Red Bull were not to choose Albon? Then there is a serious risk that the Thai will be left out of everything. Other teams are probably 'full', and suddenly being sidelined is the last thing Albon wants and deserves.