Alexander “Alex” Albon was desperate to return to Formula 1, but also had two concrete alternatives – busier than ever in 2021
With the engagement at Williams, Alexander Albon starts his second Formula 1 career. After being “parked” in the DTM for a year, he is now returning. However, the matter was not set in stone at first, which is why Albon looked for alternatives, as he explains.
“In 2021 I was busier than in any other year I have raced, even if that is hard to believe,” says the Thai. “Of course I was eager to return to Formula 1. The hunger was really there. Getting into Williams was plan A. “
“But to get a cockpit, a lot of things have to fit – especially the timing, but also other things. I really put everything into it. “
But he also had Plan B and Plan C: “I went to IndyCars to have a look around. I also spoke to a couple of Formula E teams. Of course, you have to keep such alternatives open because you never know what will happen.”
“Plan A clearly came before Plan B and C. That one burned in my heart the most. And luckily things started looking good in the middle of the year. That’s when the talks started. “
“A big thanks goes to Christian [Horner] and Helmut Marko, but also to Jost [Capito] and everyone at Williams. We got it together.”
Albon came to Formula One unexpectedly in 2019 when Daniel Ricciardo departed Red Bull. After two Formula 2 years, his career seemed to be going nowhere when Helmut Marko brought him to Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri).
In the middle of the season he was promoted to Red Bull as a replacement for Pierre Gasly, where he also drove the entire 2020 season. However, he was also unable to make a stab against Max Verstappen, so his Formula 1 career was interrupted in 2021. Albon is highly regarded by all the teams he has driven for due to his courteous manner.
