After being let go from Red Bull in 2020, Alex Albon‘s Formula 1 career stalled – after a season and a half with the Austrian team, he found himself on the sidelines in 2021. However, a year later, the British-Thai driver made a surprising comeback with Williams. Since then, the 29-year-old Albon has been the leading figure in Grove; he even holds his own alongside Carlos Sainz. Consequently, the Thai Red Bull top brass have cautiously shown interest in Albon once again.
In the chaotic closing months of 2024 – with celebrations around Max Verstappen‘s fourth title, but also off-track turmoil – Red Bull had to search for a new driver once again. Sergio Pérez paled in comparison to his Dutch teammate and had a disastrous season with the Austrians. Racing Bulls drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were seen as logical successors, but the team also looked beyond their own training program. Even the name of Franco Colapinto was briefly mentioned.
Interest in Albon
According to the Japanese F1-Gate, Red Bull also approached Alex Albon about a return to Milton Keynes. Co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya is reportedly still enthusiastic about a reunion. However, Albon reportedly felt – and still feels – little inclination for a comeback. Williams offers him stability, and the prospects leading up to 2026 appeal to him more. With the new engine regulations in mind, Williams, which uses Mercedes power units, seems to be a safer choice.
Red Bull faces the daunting task of developing its own engine from the next Formula 1 season. This ambitious project is viewed with healthy skepticism in the paddock. Former team boss Christian Horner previously stated that Mercedes would suffer a loss of face if it turns out that Red Bull has built a better engine. Such statements do little to inspire confidence in the project. Albon has previously emphasized that the course Williams is taking and the opportunities from 2026 are very interesting to him. According to Williams team boss James Vowles, Alex Albon could now compete with Red Bull champion Max Verstappen. The British-Thai driver is now a ‘completely different beast,’ Vowles declared during the race weekend in Hungary.
