Williams announced on Wednesday that Albon would be joining the crew for the 2022 season, replacing the Mercedes-certain George Russell as Nicholas Latifi’s teammate.
This can designate a racing comeback for Albon in F1 after he lost his plump-time seat with Purple Bull at the pause of ultimate 12 months, entering correct into a reserve and take a look at role.
Albon had attracted curiosity from both Alfa Romeo and Williams for subsequent 12 months, but the path to Williams complicated by its space as a Mercedes buyer crew, given the contention between Mercedes and Purple Bull.
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said final week he would possess no qualms working with Albon, as prolonged as he became once “free from his Purple Bull contract”, while Purple Bull boss Christian Horner felt it became once a “a microscopic bit of unheard of” seek files from.
Requested about Albon’s space with Purple Bull from subsequent 12 months following the announcement, Williams F1 boss Jost Capito said: “What I’m able to repeat you is that he’s a Williams driver in 2022. Whatever which technique is up to you.
“Perhaps it be well-known to quiz Purple Bull, but for us he’s a Williams driver and that’s it.”
But Purple Bull clarified by technique of a spokesperson that while Albon had been released, there had been quiet links in spot between the two events.
“Now we possess released Alex to turn into a Williams Racing driver in 2022, but web a relationship with him that involves future solutions,” the observation reads.
Albon’s signing also shuts off a most likely seat for Mercedes System E driver Nyck de Vries subsequent 12 months, but Capito said that Wolff understood the determination.
“I mediate Toto at the pause, he understands and we realize that we’re now not a B-crew and we’re now not a satellite tv for pc crew,” Capito said.
Alex Albon, Nicholas Latifi, Williams
Picture by: Williams
“Now we possess to bewitch the choices that are blooming for us, and Toto fully respects that. And he is also fully attentive to the functionality that Alex has, and might be of the concept that Alex deserves a seat in System 1. So he’s supportive.”
Following a fast stint under its umbrella in his early racing profession, Albon reunited with Purple Bull sooner than the 2019 season when he joined its sister F1 crew, Toro Rosso.
An incredible first half of his rookie season precipitated Purple Bull to promote Albon into its senior squad after correct 12 races, replacing the struggling Pierre Gasly.
After scoring correct two podiums in all of ultimate 12 months, Albon became once modified by Sergio Perez for 2021, leaving him to bewitch in a toughen role.
But Purple Bull has frequently highlighted Albon’s contribution to the crew and labored to get him a return to the grid for 2022.
When asked by Motorsport.com if Purple Bull had an solution to call Albon up to its crew subsequent 12 months if either of its peculiar drivers were unavailable, Capito said: “I correct can explain he’s a Williams driver and we predict what he’s doing and what he’s now not doing.”
Albon became once pictured in an AlphaTauri shirt for the announcement, but Capito said his signing didn’t basically imply there would be Purple Bull branding on the automobile.
“It doesn’t imply that Purple Bull comes on the automobile or now not,” Capito said.
“I’ve labored with Purple Bull a truly prolonged time. I first labored with Purple Bull in the gradual 90s after I became once at Sauber, so I’ve got a relationship with Purple Bull since then, and I’m buddies with the guys from Purple Bull.
“But it in point of fact doesn’t imply they must be on the automobile or now not, so we’ll seek.”
