Why Williams team boss Jost Capito still has a lot of confidence in his Formula 1 driver Alexander Albon and how Albon himself assesses his prospects of success in 2022
“Alex has developed very well in the 2021 season,” says Williams team boss Jost Capito. And this statement is surprising. After all, his new Formula 1 driver Alexander Albon did not compete in any Grands Prix last year, but only sporadically in the DTM, as a supplement to his role as a substitute driver for Red Bull. But it was in this role that Albon learned a lot.
“He was not only a reserve driver, but also sat in the simulator a lot,” says Capito. “He has seen racing in Formula 1 from a different perspective for once.” It is precisely this change of perspective that will help Albon in his further development.
“I think: Alex has not yet reached his zenith, he can still show a lot more,” Capito says. “But for now we’ll see how he gets on with the car and how good the car is in the first place. “
Albon has already driven the Williams FW44 for the 2022 Formula 1 season once, during the car’s shakedown at Silverstone on the day of the official presentation. However, Williams has not released details of these first test drives.
What Capito does reveal, however, is how committed Albon is to his Formula One comeback: “When I see him working in the simulator and with the engineers, he makes a happy impression on me. I have also built up a good rapport with him. We talk very openly and he feels at home here.” These are ideal conditions for a “good performance on the track,” Capito said.
No time for nothing as a Formula 1 regular driver
Albon himself, by the way, agrees with his team boss that the 2021 Formula 1 sabbatical has done him good. His “observer role” at Red Bull has given him new perspectives: “I’ve got a slightly better overview of what it means to be a top driver. “
“When you have a race weekend as a driver, you are always under power, you are in your tunnel, you only see the track. And that’s how your year goes. “
2021 was therefore like a deceleration for him, combined with deeper insights into the day-to-day business of a Formula 1 team. “I was involved a lot in the development of the car and gained some experience,” says Albon. “I can bring all of that to Williams. “
What his colleagues do better, Albon does better too
Also thanks to the support of his former Formula 1 race engineer, he said he had gained new insights about himself and Red Bull regulars Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, especially in the simulator. “You just understand better how Formula 1 works, what makes a car fast. You kind of get that in passing,” Albon explains.
At the end of 2020, shortly before his demotion from regular driver to test driver, it “gradually dawned on him” how to set up a Formula One car. As a reserve driver at Red Bull 2021, he said, he was able to hone his skills in this area. “For example, I looked at why Checo has such good race pace, how to get more power out of the car,” says Albon.
In short, he feels he is now “better prepared” for the adventure of Formula 1. “I feel more mature, I am mentally stronger,” Albon says. “The only thing that will take some time is the lack of experience I have.”
Albon points to Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso, who have each rejoined as regular drivers after Formula 1 breaks. “You could see: It took them a while to shake off the dust, so to speak. But: in 2022, everyone starts from scratch. Nevertheless, I have to use the test days efficiently, especially for myself, so that I can go into the season as well prepared as possible. “
