Among the nine drivers who can now count on a confirmed seat for the 2025 season is Alexander Albon. Despite rumors which, especially in the month of March, had involved the Anglo-Thai driver in various scenarios, Williams has always been very clear, reiterating that Albon has an existing contract until the end of next season.
He is a cornerstone of the relaunch project of James Vowles' team, and it is easy to hypothesize that he does not want to make any discounts. This was also the case in 2020, when the then Williams driver, George Russell, found himself blocked from the three-year contract signed with the team, and had to postpone his arrival at Mercedes for twelve months.
Albon, however, is still at the center of rumors that associate him with a very important steering wheel. There is talk of 2026, but the impact also affects the choices that will be made in the coming months, in particular regarding the future of Sergio Perez.
Alex Albon, Williams FW46
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
His name is being pushed in the direction of Red Bull, and not only due to a probable interest on the part of the Thai boss Chalerm Yoovidhya, majority shareholder of the group. Red Bull's management of Albon has always been the subject of criticism. Alex made his Formula 1 debut in 2019 with Toro Rosso, finding himself in the first team together with Verstappen after only twelve Grands Prix. It was the classic “Marko” move, that is, Gasly out of the car and Albon in, all on the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix.
After a year, here is the closure. At the end of the 2020 season Alex was dropped without warning, the Marko-Horner tandem did not consider him capable of providing the necessary guarantees to aim for the Constructors' championship and Albon received the sack at the beginning of December, with the drivers' market now concluded.
Alex ended the 2020 season with half the points of Verstappen, but no one could imagine that the same would happen to his successor, Sergio Perez, in both 2021 and 2023.
Today Albon is a driver with solid foundations, the experience in Williams allowed him to grow without the oppressive stress of the Red Bull period, and what he was able to do in Red Bull while only being able to count on half a season of experience in Toro Rosso , has probably been re-evaluated.
Hence the idea of a possible recall, which in Albon's case would be a repeat return. The first time was in 2018, when after finishing the season in third place in Formula 2, he received a phone call from Marko while he was in a mall in Dubai. A short conversation and he was back where he had been excluded at the end of 2012, after a disappointing first season in single-seaters.
Sergio Perez hopes for a one-year contract renewal
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
A scenario in which Albon returns to wear the Red Bull colors (in 2026) is combined with the confirmation of Perez in 2025. For Horner and Marko, trying to force the early conclusion of the contract that currently binds Alex to Williams would involve a significant expense, assuming that it is possible.
The current Perez is confirming himself in line with the target set by Red Bull on the eve of the season, if 'Checo' continues with this performance until the end of May, it is very likely that he will be confirmed for his fifth season in Red Bull. For Perez it will be the last lap, a 'last dance' before the technical revolution dated 2026.
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