Alex Albon has disclosed that his confidence in the trajectory of Williams and the team’s potential solidified his decision to remain after inking a fresh multi-year contract.
Albon has made a significant impression since his return to the Formula 1 circuit with Williams in 2022, to the extent that he was viewed as a potential linchpin in the F1 2025 driver market. However, that prospect has now been removed from consideration.
This development stems from Williams’ confirmation that Albon has secured a new “multi-year” deal with the team, aligning himself with the upcoming regulatory changes set for 2026.
Following the announcement, Albon and Vowles engaged in discussions regarding the agreement, during which the Williams team principal disclosed that Albon had garnered interest from other teams.
When directly questioned by Vowles about his decision to spurn opportunities elsewhere in favor of Williams, Albon remarked: “I believe in the journey. That’s what it all comes down to.
“I looked at the work that was being done behind the scenes and you’ve been very open in where we are.
“I think the openness and the honesty of where we are, even in the present, you weren’t ever trying to say it was better than it was. But there was always an action. There’s always an action for us to go down.
“And it was the willingness of the people that were in the factory who wanted the change. And so you had this feeling that we’re always going in the right direction for the last year and a half, two years now. We’ve all been looking at this same kind of forwards direction.
“And it was one of them [sic] ones where, when you look at the results to begin the season, it was almost like it’s unfair where we are, because I feel like there’s so much that has gone right.
“And I guess unfair, it’s not a great choice, because it’s racing. In the end, it’s results-based. But I feel like the foundations of this team have improved so much and we are forever evolving that.
“And I feel like there’s clearly so much room now for us to grow, where I didn’t feel necessarily that was the case when I first joined.”
Albon was greeted with a resounding round of applause from the Williams crew at their Grove headquarters as the confirmation of his new deal was announced.
Vowles humorously remarked, “That was a better reaction than when I joined actually,” before posing a serious question to Albon about whether he interprets it as a vote of confidence from his colleagues.
“Yes, I definitely can see that,” he replied. “I know we’ve really only put pen to paper not so long ago, but in the process it’s been about trying to use it as a shift to everyone, to try to motivate everyone.
“I’m hoping the fact that I believe in this team, to everyone at the factory, that’s reason in itself to realize that we all can do this. And I’m hoping I can give that reassurance in some ways to everyone, to know that I believe [in this] this journey, so you should too.”
Williams is still in pursuit of their inaugural point in F1 2024, despite Albon coming close on a couple of occasions with P11 finishes in Saudi Arabia and Australia.
