Albon's Performance Earns Plaudits From Williams's Team Principal

Friday, 19 January 2024 at 19:00

The team principal of the Williams Racing Formula 1 team, James Vowles, praised Alex Albon in one of his recent interviews ahead of the 2024 season.

The 2024 season is around the corner, and the Williams F1 team is set to reveal a car on which the team has been working since the beginning of 2023.

While it is uncertain how big of an improvement the British team can bring, it is clear the performance of their drivers will be crucial for delivering the results.

The team principal has no doubt about Alex Albon's abilities. The Thai driver has been with the team before him, and Vowles revealed he looked forward to working with the 27-year-old.

"I've known Alex for around eight years, and I couldn't wait to come here [to Williams] and rekindle that relationship that we had before."

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Albon's on-track performances have been one of the biggest reasons why Williams finished seventh despite not having a competitive car in 2023.

"I think if you look at him across the year, and even speak to him openly and candidly, he's not the same driver that I started with in Bahrain. He has really matured across the season and he got the most out of the car, there is no doubt about that."

The 27-year-old showed an incredible pace last year, and his team principal believes there is still a lot more in him. Vowles suggested he can clearly see that Albon hasn't stopped growing and maturing yet as he added:

"What I like about him is he hasn't stopped growing yet. He hasn't stopped maturing yet, but also, what I like about him is there's no politics. He just wants to get in the car and drive quickly, and I think that's why it works really well."

What might be a problem for Williams is securing the services of the Thai driver, who is one of the most lucrative drivers on the market today.

Different sources state different contract lengths for the 27-year-old, and it is not clear whether his contract lasts until the end of the 2024 or 2025 season.

Either way, some of the top teams might be interested in poaching the Williams driver, and his team will have to deliver him a more competitive car this year if they want to keep him.