Alex Albon bounces back in DTM

Not renewed by Red Bull Racing en F1, and replaced in Milton Keynes by Sergio Pérez, Alex Albon will not completely leave the starting grids in 2021.

The Thai, who will keep a position as test and reserve driver in Christian Horner's team, will compete in the events of DTM German this year, when it does not conflict with his F1 duties. Another driver, still to be made official, will replace him in the other rounds.

Albon will thus discover the driving of GT3s, a category which will now be highlighted in the overseas series, after the end of the Class One regulations last year.

With the support of Red Bull, another car, whose brand has not been communicated, will be lined up for the New Zealander Liam Lawson, another resident of the Red Bull fold and passed by the FIA F3 in 2020 with Hitech GP.

“Formula 1 drivers like Alex Albon, DTM stars like three-time champion René Rast, GT professionals and young talents like Liam Lawson: it’s a mix of drivers like I wanted for the 2021 season, confesses Gerhard Berger, boss of the promoter ITR. Alex Albon is an ambitious young driver and an exceptional reinforcement for the DTM. »

Albon will thus be able to maintain a link with the race, and not limit himself to only simulator sessions or even F1 tests this season.

“The DTM, with a top grid and GT3 cars, is an interesting platform and a real challenge, both for experienced drivers like Alex Albon and for our junior driver Liam Lawson. » believes Helmut Marko, Red Bull consultant in charge of the young driver program.

In its old formula, the DTM had served as a gateway to F1 for Paul di Resta and Pascal Wehrlein, both crowned in touring before taking the plunge. The path is the opposite this time for Alex Albon, but let's hope that he gets the best out of it for the rest of his career.