Alex Albon recently opened up about the impact Carlos Sainz’s arrival at Williams has had, stirring memories of his own departure from Red Bull. Albon’s journey with Red Bull began at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix and lasted until the close of the 2020 F1 season, when Sergio Perez replaced him, leaving Albon without a seat on the grid the following year.
In 2021, Albon kept busy by competing in DTM while also serving as a reserve driver for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri. Then, in 2022, he secured a spot with Williams. Although Albon officially parted ways with the Austrian team at the end of his first year with Williams, Sainz’s move from Ferrari has brought his past experiences back to mind.
Sainz, having spent the last four seasons racing for a top-tier team, joined Williams and quickly began offering insights on how to improve the FW47. The differences between Williams and his previous team, Ferrari, were immediately apparent to Sainz—something Albon can certainly relate to.
Albon shared that listening to Sainz’s feedback for the Grove team triggered memories of his own exit from Red Bull. Both drivers faced the challenge of adjusting to life with a midfield car after the privilege of racing for a leading team.
“I think he’s got a wealth of experience, and he excels at conveying his thoughts about the car and what direction it needs to head in,” Albon shared with select media, including RacingNews365.
“It’s reminiscent of my Red Bull days. Coming here, you quickly recognize what your former car did well and where the new one falls short. Even during testing, he’s managed to get a solid understanding and get the car into good shape. He’s settled in quite comfortably, and that’s encouraging.”
“We’re all on the same page, echoing similar feedback. The team’s doing a great job responding to our input and adjusting accordingly. So far, everything’s going smoothly,” he concluded.
