Alex Albon is at the center of conversation at his home Formula 1 British Grand Prix
At Silverstone, the British-born Thai driver was right on the pace, finishing P3 in both practice sessions in his rapidly improving 2023 Williams. He went on to qualify eighth.
“Let’s see how much fuel they had in that car,” said Red Bull consultant Dr Helmut Marko, who promoted the 27-year-old into F1 via the Red Bull driver program but subsequently demoted and then approved his transition to a non-Red Bull F1 driver. “They must have turned everything all the way up.”
For his part, Albon admitted he was “surprised” by the Friday pace, but according to Haas rival Nico Hulkenberg, Williams’ speed is actually “real.”
“They look damn fast,” Hulkenberg said. “Yep, it looks real.”Williams team principal James Vowles admits that the fast times were achieved during simulated “qualifying runs,” as the team gets a “better understanding of our recent upgrades.””I’d like to bet that other teams had more fuel on board.”Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, however, left open the possibility that the new-specification and heavier Pirelli tires introduced at Silverstone have changed the pecking order. But at the very same time, it is rumored that top teams are now potentially interested in snapping up Albon for the future.
Albon is even being linked with Ferrari.
Williams’ Alex Albon has been running with the leaders this weekend at Silverstone.
Ryan Pierse//Getty Images
“In Austria, (Ferrari boss) Frederic Vasseur spoke to Alex Albon about 2025,” the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport reports.
Another possibility is that Red Bull might see Albon as a candidate to eventually replace Sergio Perez, despite the fact that it was Perez who replaced Albon at Red Bull after 2020.Performance aside, the move to bring back Albon might also have the backing of Red Bull’s upper brass, including the energy drink’s new CEO, Oliver Mintzlaff.
“With every conversation I have with Mintzlaff, the situation becomes more positive and constructive,” Marko, who initially clashed with Dietrich Mateschitz’s successor, told Kronen Zeitung newspaper.
Albon also has powerful Thai allies in the form of Chalerm Yoovidhya, heir to the late Thai billionaire whose family still controls 51% of the energy drink company. Yoovidhya was present at the recent Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring.”We are taking note of this increased presence very positively,” Marko said.And he admits that could work in Albon’s favor.”Albon was always fast and he’s in top form at the moment,” said the 80-year-old Austrian.
When asked if Albon is a candidate to return to Red Bull Racing, Marko smiled: “We are always in contact with him.”
F1 British Grand Prix
Qualifying Results
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
- Alexander Albon, Williams
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Nico Hülkenberg, Haas
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine
- Logan Sargeant, Williams
- Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
- Sergio Pérez, Red Bull
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
- Nyck de Vries, AlphaTauri
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas
Keyword: F1 British GP Starting Grid: Alex Albon's Stock Rising as Ferrari, Red Bull Showing Renewed Interest