Alexander Albon: Thailand's Formula One Warrior

Imagine a player boasting a Thailand flag in the F1 race but having British nationality. This is no longer an imagination but a reality with Alexander Albon and his journey in Formula One. He started with an early promise when he joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2012 and waited for the breakthrough to come in 2016. In the GP3, he ended up as a runner-up after a long-drawn battle with Charles Leclerc.

Moving to Formula 2, Albon's career trajectory accelerated when he secured four wins and third place in the 2018 championship, behind friends and future F1 rivals George Russell and Lando Norris. This performance rekindled his relationship with Red Bull, who had previously dropped him from their junior program.

The Red Bull Debacle

Albon’s F1 debut came with Toro Rosso in 2019, and he went on to gather points and impress the fans and the management with top finishes in Bahrain, China, and Monaco. His faster adaptation led to the promotion of the Red Bull Racing, partnering alongside Max Verstappen. While for others, it would have been a pressure situation, Alexander Albon secured top-six finishes in eight of his nine races with the team.

However, the 2020 season was a challenging one for Alexander Albon. Despite achieving the first podium finish at the Tuscan Grand Prix, he failed to adapt to the pace of Max Verstappen. At the end of the season, Red Bull replaced him with Sergio Perez while pushing Albon to the test and reserve driver role. 

Williams Renaissance

While he spent the year on the sidelines in 2021, Albon returned to the racing circuit in 2022 with Williams. George Russell recommended the driver who went on to rebuild the reputation, scoring points in Australia with a masterful display of tire management.  

Embracing the team leader role in 2023, Albon's performances proved crucial for Williams. He out-qualified rookie teammate Logan Sargeant in every race and delivered points in multiple grands prix, including an impressive third-row start at Monza. His consistent excellence helped Williams secure seventh in the constructors' championship. Now in 2024, Albon continues with Williams, currently sitting eighth in the drivers' standings with 20 points, recently adding two more with a ninth-place finish. The laidback Thai driver with a cheeky grin has successfully transformed his career from a Red Bull casualty to a respected F1 stalwart.