F2 star Albon thinks he can earn Toro Rosso 2019 F1 shot
Formula 2 frontrunner Alexander Albon believes he can fight for a Toro Rosso Formula 1 seat in 2019, but accepts he must convince sceptical Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko
Albon was dropped by the Marko-run Red Bull junior programme in 2012 and by the Gravity management stable linked to Lotus a year later.
But with Toro Rosso scrabbling for credible options to replace an unconvincing Brendon Hartley and Red Bull-bound Pierre Gasly, Albon has sensed an opportunity.
The 22-year-old British Thai driver will accrue enough superlicence points should he finish in the top five in F2.
Albon is currently third in the F2 points, 18 behind McLaren junior Lando Norris and 30 behind Mercedes' George Russell.
"I need to do better if I want to have a seat with Toro Rosso next year," said Albon, who has tied Russell for poles on three this year but won three races to Russell's four.
"I think it's the only place I have [the opportunity] to drive with a team in F1.
"Dr Marko isn't my biggest fan and I need to impress him more to have a chance.
"I think the only chance I have to get to F1 is to have some good results and finish strong.
"I have to concentrate on F2, finish well and after that we'll see."
Albon lacks major financial backing so would need team support to make it into F1.
"I don't have the budget, I'm struggling [for money] in F2," he said. "There's only really three teams that you can be a junior driver for and not bring budget.
"It makes the F1 grid even smaller when you look at it like that.
"My goal is to focus on what I'm doing and hopefully the opportunity will come."
Toro Rosso has previously approached McLaren over placing Norris at Toro Rosso, and could move for him now that McLaren has signed Carlos Sainz Jr to replace Fernando Alonso.
Stoffel Vandoorne is also being linked with Toro Rosso, and the team could yet give Hartley another season in the car.
Dan Ticktum is heavily favoured by Red Bull, but unless a superlicence points change is made, the Formula 3 European Championship leader will fall short of the number of points needed to qualify for F1.
Previous article
F1 driver market 2019: What happens next?
Next article
Force India F1 team may run under new name later in 2018 season
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Alex Albon |
| Teams | Toro Rosso |
| Author | Jack Benyon |
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How crucial marginal calls will decide the Red Bull vs Mercedes battle in F1 2021
The longer Red Bull can maintain a performance edge over Mercedes, the better the odds will be in the team’s favour against the defending world champions. But as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, many more factors will be critical in the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle
The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time.
How Raikkonen's rapid rise stalled his team-mate's F1 career climb
Kimi Raikkonen’s emergence as a Formula 1 star in his rookie campaign remains one of the legendary storylines from 2001, but his exploits had an unwanted impact on his Sauber team-mate’s own prospects. Twenty years on from his first F1 podium at the Brazilian GP, here’s how Nick Heidfeld’s career was chilled by the Iceman
