Alexander albon
1. Who is Alexander Albon?
Alexander Albon is a Thai racing driver. He was born on March 23, 1996 in London (United Kingdom). He currently races for Williams in Formula 1.
2. Alexander Albon’s junior career
Alexander Albon started car racing and karting at the age of 8, in 2005, in the Honda Cadet class. Between 2006 and 2011, he always finished on the podium in all the championships in which he took part. He opened his record in competitions on a British and European scale, scoring victories against talents in the discipline like Charles Leclerc or Max Verstappen.
In 2012, he made his debut in single-seaters. The same year, he joined the network of young Red Bull drivers, then coming under the tutorship of Helmut Marko. In 2014, he took part in the Formula Renault 2.0 Nec Eurocup, where he finished 3rd. The following year, he participated in the European F3 season, amassing 187 points and scoring 5 podiums. In 2016, he became vice-champion of the GP3 series.
His good results are confirmed and his career in motorsport is progressing well. The Thai driver discovered Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix in 2017. His second year was much more spectacular, this time with another team: DAMS. He was well ahead of his teammate, Nicholas Latifi, and won 4 races, reached 7 podiums and signed 3 pole positions. He finished 3rd in the Drivers' standings, behind Lando Norris and George Russell. Excellent content that opens the doors to F1 for him.
Alex Albon with DAMS in 2018. © Klaas Gerrit Norg / DPPI
3. Alexander Albon’s F1 journey
For his discovery of Formula 1, the Thai is established by Toro Rosso, a usual passage for any Red Bull driver arriving in F1. His debut in the category resulted in a 14th place at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, won by Valtteri Bottas ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly saw their destinies reversed in 2019. © Xavi Bonilla / DPPI
The Thai, for his first year in F1, is holding his own against his teammate, the Russian Daniil Kvyat, a much more experienced driver. Mid-season, Red Bull and Toro Rosso decide to swap the positions of Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon. The Thai found himself teammate of Max Verstappen in the main team, when the Frenchman, not really put in the best conditions in Milton Keynes, found himself demoted to the Faenza team.
Alexander Albon takes part in his first Grand Prix in the seat of a Red Bull in Belgium, in 2019. A meeting marked by the tragic disappearance of Anthoine Hubert. In a heavy atmosphere, he put in a remarkable performance and finished 5th. The Thai driver continued with very solid results (6th in Italy, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. 5th in Sochi, Mexico and Austin and 4th in Suzuka). In Brazil, he is very close to getting on the podium for the first time in his F1 career. But an error by Lewis Hamilton sends him into the gravel trap.
Alexander Albon at Red Bull in 2019. © Francois Flamand / DPPI
Red Bull decides, in view of Alexander Albon's results, to confirm him for the next Formula 1 season. Pierre Gasly, for his part, continues to defend the colors of Toro Rosso, renamed AlphaTauri. The London native is starting the season as he finished the last one, at ease. In Austria, he had his best qualifying session and placed his RB16 in 4th position.
Alexander Albon had a solid race and found himself in the tailpipes of the leaders. He can even go for victory, because he is wearing fresh tires. But a new brush with the seven-time British world champion ruins his hopes. Author of pole position, Valtteri Bottas wins the first post-confinement Formula 1 Grand Prix. Small consolation, the son of Nigel Albon, British rider, was elected driver of the day, but he finished 13th.
Alexander Albon in 2020. © Antonin Vincent / DPPI
Alexander will then experience a drop in performance in the seat of the RB16, far from Verstappen's pace. Very irregular, he offered a few points to Red Bull, and only reached the podium twice (at Mugello and in Bahrain). Red Bull, a growing team in the race to beat Mercedes, decides on the departure of Alexander Albon. At the very end of the season, Red Bull announces the arrival of Sergio Pérez in Milton Keynes. The Thai becomes a test pilot.
In 2021, Albon discovers the DTM championship behind the wheel of a Ferrari. In the summer, he returned to F1 and was announced as the driver of a historic team: Williams. He takes the place of George Russell and becomes Nicholas Latifi's new teammate for the 2022 season.
Alexander Albon completed a season in DTM in 2021. © Red Bull
Alongside the Canadian, Albon struggles with a capricious Williams in 2022. Impressive in top speed, the car is not capable of competing with competing teams. Haas and Alpha Tauri enjoyed a marked lead from the start of the season, and the Grove team could never regain the upper hand. Result: last place in the Manufacturers with 8 points (compared to 35 for Alpha Tauri), its two drivers bringing up the rear in the drivers' ranking. But Albon stood out, achieving some exploits in qualifying and scoring the team's first point in the third meeting of the season. He logically outclasses his Canadian teammate who will only enter the points once at Suzuka (Japan), and will be asked to take the door. The Thai will then team up with rookie Logan Sargeant in 2023.
Alex Albon is back in F1 at Williams. © Diederik Van Ver Laan / DPPI
4. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Alexander Albon
The Thai made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso before taking Pierre Gasly's place alongside Verstappen. If he does not lack strong points, he sometimes lacked his rhythm in the race. His return to Williams was successful, maturing and doing the best he could with a tricky car. He will have to use his experience against his new teammate and allow the team to fight… for the last places, certainly, but to fight all the same.
5. Learn more about Alexander Albon
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Drivers of his generation
