Alex Albon has impressed rival team bosses with the ex-Red Bull driver starring at Williams since his F1 return. According to ESPN, at least two teams showed a serious interest in signing Albon for the 2023 campaign.
However, the constructors were unable to negotiate a deal with Williams holding onto the services of the 27-year-old. There were even paddock rumours that he turned down the opportunity to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull earlier this season.
However, the claims are likely false with Albon denying a move was on the cards. But he stressed the links showed his talent had shone through since his F1 comeback.
He explained: “Yeah. Weird! The only thing that’s nice about rumours is it’s clearly showing things are going well. They’re nice rumours as well. I see some bad ones. It’s always my friends sending me this absolute garbage, like, ‘Is this true!?'”
Albon had a couple of near misses with the Thai star appearing on course for a podium at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix before he was tagged by Lewis Hamilton. A year later, the youngster looked set to challenge for his first career win before he was again spun around by Hamilton.
Just months later, he was ditched by Red Bull after failing to impress team bosses in a difficult 2020. Albon enjoyed a year on the sidelines in 2021 but made his comeback with Williams just a year later.
Despite the links to rivals, Albon appears happy to remain at the team which gave him a second chance in the sport.
But Albon is clear he still wants the opportunity to stand on the top step of the podium. He told ESPN: “I think purely as a driver it’s all about performance. You’ve got to do your job and give yourself the best platform.
“My focus is on Williams and I’m excited to see this progress and see where it’s going to take us in one, two years’ time and see from there where we are, and can we be fighting for podiums? Because that’s my goal, that’s where I want to be, wherever that is. I want to have a chance to win races before I retire, before I turn grey and old! I’m ready for that.”
Williams boss James Vowles praised his driver after Albon held on for points at the Canadian Grand Prix. He described Albon’s afternoon as “the drive of a champion” as he tipped him to remain at the British team for the long term.
He explained: “There are areas where he and I talk about where I think he can do more, but he’s got what it takes to bring us forward as an organisation. As I said, for the future, from where I am at the moment, I hope he’s very much a part of it.”
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