F1 Today | Albon commits to Williams and Sauber keeping options open

Alexander Albon has committed his long-term future to Williams, whilst Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl wants to keep their options open for who will complete their driver line-up in 2025 alongside Nico Hulkenberg. McLaren's team Principal wants them to keep their upward trajectory and continue fighting at the front of the grid, whilst Hamilton is told he needs to open up to the Tifosi.

Alex Albon signs new long-term deal with Williams

Alexander Albon has signed a new long-term deal with Williams Racing. After joining the British team in 2022, Albon has impressed at the Grove-based team, scoring 27 points last season.

He spent a year as Red Bull reserve driver after losing his seat in 2020.

Read what Albon and Williams Team Principal James Vowles had to say here.

Albon's date interrupted

To sign his new contract with Williams, Albon had to interrupt his date with his girlfriend Lily Muni He.

Albon had been on his way to swimming with stingrays but had to stop to sign his contract first, as they "wanted it done that day".

Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl is still looking at the driver market for 2025

Stake F1 Team still have one seat to fill alongside Nico Hulkenberg for 2025, and the team's CEO and former McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl wants to "keep all options open" for who will partner the German.

Hulkenberg joins Kick Sauber from Haas, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz top of Audi's wishlist, when they take over the team in 2026.

Seidl denied rumours that both Valterri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be leaving the team, saying that they are "very grateful for what they have done and what they are still doing at Kick Sauber".

McLaren continues with fighting talk.

McLaren has improved dramatically since the start of the 2023 season. Since the British Grand Prix, they have consistently improved and are now regularly challenging at the front of the grid, highlighted by Oscar Piastri's sprint victory in Qatar and Lando Norris' maiden victory at the Miami Grand Prix.

Team Principal Andrea Stella wants to keep their upward trajectory going, saying their win in Miami has "served to reinvigorate our goal to consistently achieve wins and podiums."

In Imola, Oscar Piastri will now receive the full update that Lando Norris had in Miami, after only having half of the update package.

Hamilton needs to open up in Imola

Karun Chandhok on Sky Sports F1's podcast believes that 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton needs to "open up a bit more to them over the weekend", as the Tifosi prepare for the first of two race weekends in Italy.

Hamilton will make the move to Ferrari at the end of the season, after spending 12 seasons with Mercedes.

Sky Italia told Chandhok that "There's a huge amount of excitement over Lewis coming. I think they are super, super keen to have him. I think they will welcome him in."