Albon won't rush to commit F1 future to Williams

Alex Albon has said he will not rush to commit his Formula 1 future to Williams, as he thinks it important he keeps his options wide open for 2025.

Alex Albon, Williams Racing

The Thai driver has a deal with Williams through to the end of next year and has been clear that he believes the Grove-based squad has a bright future under new team principal James Vowles.

However, Albon’s recent impressive form has seen him emerge as an obvious target for a number of top teams, including Red Bull and Ferrari, who have vacancies for 2025.

Albon is well aware that interest around him is growing and has said that is why he wants to bide his team into next season to see what his potential options open up for him.

Asked by Autosport if he was happy to hold fire on making a decision about staying at Williams beyond 2024, Albon said: “I think I have the confidence in myself to keep myself open.”

Albon has enjoyed his return to F1 with Williams, and would like nothing more than seeing the team make the progress it needs to get back to the front of the grid.

However, he is also mindful that time is ticking on his career and he cannot wait forever if he wants to have the chance to win races.

“There's a balance really,” he said about where he saw his future. “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.

Alex Albon, Williams Racing

Alex Albon, Williams Racing

Photo by: Williams

“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?”

Williams has been making strides in improving its 2023 F1 car, and has made particular gains in adding more downforce.

And while a bigger step may have to wait until 2024, Albon senses there is a good chance for the squad to unlock a good chunk of lap time if it can sort out some of the inherent car traits that have been inherent in the Williams design for years.

Read Also:

“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 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.”

shares
comments

Related video

Singapore GP: F1 technical images from the pitlane explained

Lack of F1 and Red Bull action on "unacceptable" Marko racism "interesting" - Hamilton

The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team

The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Damien Smith

The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Damien Smith

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Belgian GP
GP Racing

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Jonathan Noble

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

How football has posed difficult questions for F1

How football has posed difficult questions for F1

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1

The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1

The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Subscribe