Alexander Albon is a Thai-British F1 driver who currently competes for Williams Racing under the Thai flag.
| Nationality | Thai |
|---|---|
| Born | Alexander Albon Ansusinha 23 March 1996 London, England |
Albon has had an impressive F1 career, previously racing for Scuderia Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing. He became part of the Red Bull Junior Team in 2012, beginning his journey in open-wheel racing during the 2012 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season. Albon spent three years in the series, finishing third in the 2014 championship.
In 2015, he moved to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, where he finished seventh. Albon’s drives caught the attention of ART Grand Prix, who signed him to compete in the 2016 GP3 Series, where he finished runner-up behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
In 2017, Albon moved to the FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART, finishing tenth in his maiden year. He switched to the DAMS team in 2018, winning four races and finishing third in the championship. Albon’s performance earned him a spot in Formula One in 2019, where he debuted alongside Daniil Kvyat with Toro Rosso.
Toro Rosso, the sister team to Red Bull Racing, was Albon’s first step into F1 after being part of the Red Bull Junior Team. Albon quickly showcased his driving, making his debut at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix and performing solidly during his first 12 races with the team. His promising start in Formula One quickly led to his promotion to the senior Red Bull Racing team later in the season to replace Pierre Gasly and partnering Max Verstappen. Albon immediately found himself under pressure at one of the sport’s top teams. Despite this, he delivered consistent performances, with notable highlights in 2020, including securing his first podium at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, where he became the first Thai driver to achieve a podium finish in Formula One. He followed this with another podium finish in Bahrain. Albon’s drive with Red Bull lasted until the end of the 2020 season, after which Sergio Perez replaced him. While no longer a race driver for Red Bull, Albon remained part of the team as a reserve and test driver in 2021.
After a year on the sidelines, in 2022, Albon signed with Williams Racing, stepping out of the shadow of the Red Bull family. Williams, a team steeped in F1 history but in the midst of a rebuild, provided Albon with the opportunity to lead the team as its main driver. His performances saw him drag the car higher up the grid than expected, earning him praise within the paddock. Albon was able to help Williams in their fight for points in the midfield, and by 2024, he had become a cornerstone of the team. His strong performances in 2023 and 2024 secured him a contract extension with Williams, extending his time with the team until at least the end of the 2026 season.
Outside of Formula One, Albon competed in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) in 2021, driving for Red Bull AF Corse alongside fellow Red Bull Junior Liam Lawson.
As of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Albon has achieved two podiums in Formula One.
