SUMMARY
- With Mercedes in need of a driver, Alex Albon emerges as a potential option, while reports hint at a Red Bull return.
- Williams' team principal James Vowles confirms Albon's contract until 2025, dispelling rumors.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 has triggered a domino effect, causing waves that reach as far as Williams and Alex Albon. Mercedes finds itself in an emergency state to fill the empty seat, and Albon emerges as a potential contender. However, recent reports have suggested that the Thai-British driver might secure the spot of the second driver at his former team, Red Bull.
This is the probable outcome of Sergio Perez’s dismissal. The Mexican driver dimmed his stance at the Milton Keynes-based team with a series of lackluster performances in 2023. Perez will be out of his ongoing contract with the Bulls by the end of this season along with many others. This has instigated a search for potential candidates.
Contrasting to what the news reports have to say, Williams team principal James Vowles has given a verdict on Albon’s future with the team.
James Vowles secured Alex Albon at Williams until next year
After Albon’s strong showings with Williams, rumors linked him to a return to Red Bull in 2025 alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen. However, the UK-based team has finally put an end to the ongoing rumors with their response. Vowles, as a representative of Williams, stated, “Alex is signed in Williams until the end of 2025.”
Williams #F1 team principal James Vowles has clarified Alex Albon is signed up with the team through 2025 despite rumours linking him to various top teams. pic.twitter.com/a1nfh6iD51
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) February 5, 2024
He went on to add, “It’s not something I’ve been very public about because I don’t feel the need to, so any reports that you’re seeing, and there’s one in particular, they’re individually speculating, at best…He and I have good chats about where we want to move forward, and where we want to move forward is we want to have our journey together in this team for a long time.”
Albon has experienced a rollercoaster ride in Formula 1, encountering both many wins and a great deal of challenges. Red Bull eventually replaced the driver with Perez in 2020.
F1 future: Williams driver responds to Mercedes/Red Bull rumors
Regardless of the whispers going around in and outside the paddock, Alex Albon has cleared it out that his focus solely lies on his driving in the hectic 2024 season. Famed F1 journalist Peter Windsor even suggested that Albon had received a three-year offer from Red Bull.
🚨 FIA accredited PlanetF1 journalist Thomas Maher insists that Red Bull have NOT presented an offer to Alex Albon at this time.
His sources have suggested this could have been a tactical move from Albon’s camp to get the attention of Mercedes. pic.twitter.com/QkeJ41UleD
— leo🐋 (@formuleo_) February 3, 2024
However, according to the Thai-British driver, “I’m very excited to see how this FW46 develops, I want to see how the car feels in Bahrain, and the subsequent four or five races and really get a feel for the progression that I hope we’ve made as a team. My whole focus is on Williams. That’s where I see myself, I’m seeing about the long-term future…”
However, with Mercedes also scouting for Hamilton’s replacement, there is a chance that Albon might get the chance to see himself with one of the top teams.