Williams issue hands-off Alex Albon message to Mercedes, Red Bull
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Alex Albon has been linked with a return to Red Bull, with Sergio Perez’s contract due to expire at the end of 2024.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Williams boss James Vowles has issued a hands-off warning to Mercedes and Red Bull, as he revealed on Feb 5 that Alex Albon is under contract with the British-based team until the end of the 2025 season.
Lewis Hamilton’s shock move from Mercedes to Ferrari
Albon, 27, has also been linked with a return to Red Bull, with Sergio Perez’s contract due to expire at the end of 2024.
“Alex is signed with Williams until the end of 2025,” said Vowles at the team’s 2024 season launch.
“It is not something I have been very public about because I have not felt the need to.
“It is our job at Williams to create an environment that deserves someone of the calibre of Alex. He is an incredible driver who deserves his place towards the front of the grid.”
Albon finished 13th in the drivers’ championship in 2023 with an impressive 27 points to help Williams land seventh in the constructors’ standings.
It was the team’s best result for six seasons.
Vowles was formerly chief strategist during Mercedes’ most successful period between 2014 and 2021.
And he claimed some of Albon’s drives last season were up there with what he had seen Hamilton produce in the past.
“Some of his drives last year were no different to other champions I have worked with in the past,” added Vowles.
“He and I have good chats about how we want to move forward, and how we want to move forward is by having our journey together in this team for a long time.”
Albon was dropped by Red Bull at the end of 2020, but he is reportedly still held in high regard by the world champions.
And he was less committal on where his future may lie after this season.
“Let’s see. Time will tell,” said Albon. “The real focus is on 2024 and making progress for 2025. That is where I am at.”
Meanwhile, F1 teams agreed changes to the sprint format on Feb 5 to make race weekends easier to follow.
The teams, along with Formula One Management and the governing FIA, agreed to reorder the sessions on sprint weekends so that Friday has one free practice followed by a sprint qualifying “shoot-out”.
The 100km race will then be on Saturday morning before qualifying for Sunday’s main grand prix.
Last season saw qualifying for the grand prix on Friday, with sprint qualifying and the stand-alone race filling Saturday’s schedule.
The 24-race season, starting in Bahrain on March 2, has six scheduled sprint weekends.
The commission also agreed at the meeting in London to increase the power unit allocation to four per driver for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The drag reduction system activation for the race will also be one lap after the start, rather than two. AFP, REUTERS
