Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing on the grid. 17.09.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 16, Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Race Day.
Williams driver Alex Albon says he is prepared to keep his options in Formula 1 “open” beyond 2024.
Albon embarked upon his F1 debut in 2019 with Toro Rosso, since rebranded as AlphaTauri, before earning a surprise promotion to the senior Red Bull side
But having retained his place for the next year, Albon was dropped completely at the end of 2020, eventually returning to the grid with Williams at the start of last season.
Since being picked up by the Grove-based side, the Anglo-Thai driver has played a pivotal role in Williams’ recovery bid, scoring the entirety of the team’s 21 points this year.
However, Albon, who retains a contract until the end of 2024, has been linked with a potential switch to Ferrari, who currently have two available vacancies for 2025.
When asked by Autosport whether he would delay a decision on remaining with Williams beyond the end of next year, Albon responded: “I think I have the confidence in myself to keep myself open.”
Having rebuilt his reputation at Williams, Albon has previously issued that he would back himself to succeed with a top team if another opportunity materialised.
Although Albon explains his ideal career scenario would be to propel Williams back to the top, the 27-year-old concedes his next contract will come at a critical time to his aspirations of competing for race victories.
“There’s a balance really,” he said regarding his future prospects. “Being totally honest, I want to see this team and I want to be part of a team that brings this team forward.
“I think the rate of progress that we’re having here at Williams and seeing what’s happening behind the scenes is great. I’m fully committed to the team until my contract pretty much ends.
“But I am also 27. Although I’m not young, I’m also not old. And I do feel like I am in a good part of my career. If you take another year I’m 28, then 29 going onto 30 soon.
“I want to give myself the chance to be able to fight for wins and fight for podiums. And what it comes down to is, at that time and in that time, can we bring this team to be that team?”
Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing FW45 on the grid. 17.09.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 16, Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Race Day
Despite Williams rising from the foot of the Constructors’ standings last year to seventh this term, Albon has repeatedly reiterated the team is being held back by its recent cars all maintaining the same inherent flaws
Albon, who tested the Williams 2024 car in the simulator earlier this year, believes the British squad can take a leap forward by removing those long-lasting “limitations”.
“I think we’re in a window of opportunity for us, because we’re achieving results and we believe there’s even more potential if we can fix these characteristic problems,” he said.
“We [have] got downforce on the car, maybe a little bit less than some of the top teams around us, but we’re also poor within some corners where we just can’t be at the limit through the whole corner because we have a certain limitation at a certain point. Once that goes away I think we are going to become a much more rounded team.
“That being said, it sounds very easy to say. It’s been a limitation in the car for almost over five, six years, I’d say. So we do need to address it and fix it, but I feel like now, more than ever, there’s a good chance we’re going to really get on top of it.
“We may not fix it completely, but I do believe we’re going to make a good step.”
Keyword: Albon prepared to keep F1 options ‘open’ beyond 2024