Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing. 06.10.2023 Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Qualifying Day.
2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has tipped Alex Albon to return to Red Bull to replace the under-pressure Sergio Perez.
Albon was promoted to Red Bull in place of Pierre Gasly midway through his rookie F1 campaign in 2019, but the Anglo-Thai driver was eventually dropped at the end of the following year to make way for Perez.
However, Perez has massively struggled in his third season with the Austrian outfit, currently lagging a mammoth 209 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Albon has since rebuilt his career at Williams, scoring the entirety of the Grove squad’s 23 points in 2023, prompting Rosberg to pinpoint him as the ideal choice to displace Perez as early as next year.
However, the German acknowledges that Albon’s contractual situation with Williams would provide a potential stumbling block if Red Bull attempted to usher him back under its motorsport stable alongside Verstappen.
“Logan Sargeant [Albon’s Williams team-mate] is another one of those drivers who’s on shaky ground and really needs to prove himself, but he’s been making too many mistakes so honestly I think it’s going to be difficult for him to retain that seat for next year, especially because Albon is doing such a phenomenal job,” Rosberg told Sky F1.
“Albon would also be a dream candidate actually for the Red Bull mother team for next year to replace Sergio Perez but unfortunately, as Helmut Marko was saying, Albon is locked in with a long-term contract there at Williams.”
Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB19 crashed in the first practice session. 21.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 12, Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest, Hungary, Practice Day.
Red Bull advisor Marko again hinted that Perez could be moved aside unless his performances improve after he experienced another disastrous showing in Qatar.
The Mexican failed to progress to Q3 for the eighth time this year before his race was compromised by a trio of track limit infringement penalties, leaving him 10th.
Perez has only picked up five points across the previous three race weekends, enabling Lewis Hamilton to close to within 30 points of the second Red Bull in the standings.
Despite being thrashed by Verstappen, Albon expressed earlier this year he wouldn’t turn down the chance to test himself again at the sharp end if the opportunity arose.
The 27-year-old has thrust his name into the conversation for a potential top drive by impressively rebounding from his nightmare Red Bull stint to lead Williams’ recovery bid.
Courtesy of Albon’s efforts, Williams are on course to achieve its highest placing in the Constructors’ Championship since 2017. The British team currently sit seventh, seven points clear of Alfa Romeo behind.
Keyword: Rosberg tips Albon for Red Bull return to replace Perez