Alex Albon feels he is better placed to challenge Max Verstappen if given another chance with Red Bull than he was during their first spell as team-mates.
The British-Thai driver spent 18 months with Red Bull in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. And that opportunity came very early in his Formula 1 career: he only had 12 races of experience under his belt with sister team AlphaTauri when he was called up. to actualize Pierre Gasly’s suffering.
Albon had more time than the Frenchman and still spent all the time in Verstappen’s shadow. He lost his position on the F1 grid when Sergio Perez repositioned him but, after a year away, he returned in 2022 with Williams.
Scoring opportunities haven’t been normal with his new team, but he rarely takes advantage of them when they present themselves. After two seasons at Williams, Albon has not only returned to the grid, but has also caught the attention of other groups. more in the paddock with his performances.
Armed with the experience and skills he has now, the 27-year-old believes he could adapt much better than when he was at Red Bull. “Other drivers who have gone through difficult stages in their careers, like Daniel [Ricciardo] at McLaren, have struggled to feel comfortable in the car,” he told Motorsport Total.
“So we tried to feel comfortable in the Red Bull. It never worked. With the wisdom I have today, I may have succeeded. But in hindsight, it’s easy to say. “
“At the end of the day, I feel like going through those tough months and race weeks has made me even better and more focused in this area. I have more comments I want to give. Now I have more confidence in myself. I have a better understanding of what the car needs to look like in order to be more efficient.
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“When I sit in these meetings, not only with the engineers on the track, but also with the aerodynamicists and technicians in the factory, with the people who are developing the car for next year, then today I know much better what I’m talking about. I understand the car and its strengths and weaknesses better. Then, you have the courage to say more.
“At Red Bull I still had to be informed, so I couldn’t give much feedback on the direction I wanted to take with the car, because I had to be informed first to understand what the car does and why.
With three-quarters of the grid out of contract in the next 12 months, the engine market is expected to be very active this year and Albon could be a key player in that regard. As things stand, Red Bull isn’t seriously bringing back its former driver, but other, more sensible teams are really interested, including Ferrari, which has been especially inspired by its functionality in 2023.
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