The 2022 season has been full of surprises like Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz falling short against their younger teammates. This has led to many not only doubting their skills but also questioning their importance to the team. However, the Williams driver, Alex Albon, presents a different perspective.
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The former Red Bull driver revealed that a driver not only helps a team with his performance but also helps develop the car with their experience. Although the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers might not be bringing in the most points every weekend, their feedback will help the engineers to improve the car.
Formula One F1 – Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia – April 7, 2022 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ahead of practice REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Albon said, “The general media or public look over is they are looking at two drivers. They look over the performance between teammates. But what they don’t see is a driver’s value in developing a car.”
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Alex Albon on Lewis Hamilton’s importance at Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes back in 2013 when the team wasn’t even well recognized. But the 37-year-old helped the German F1 team to become an eight-time world champion. Hamilton is still helping his F1 team during his troublesome 2022 season. Even Alex Albon talks about how Hamilton’s contribution to Mercedes helped the team and also himself to dominate the sport for so many seasons.
Alex said, “So, I’m sure someone like Lewis is unbelievable at feedback and pushing the development and pushing the team in the right way. There is no reason not to believe that, if you are up at the front for that long, you are very good as a driver to make sure the team is focusing on the right areas to improve and develop the car.”
Albon’s hypothesis about the Ferrari duo
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The Ferrari duo is undoubtedly one of the best F1 driver lineups this season. However, Charles Leclerc has been outperforming his Spanish teammate since the first race in Bahrain. In light of this, the Williams driver Albon believes that Sainz’s main job this season might be to provide information to Ferrari to improve the car.
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 18, 2022 Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. during practice REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
The Thai driver also said, “It can be very very well be that. I think that’s a bit which maybe, that’s a hypothesis. But it’s a very valid point, and it’s a very big contribution to a driver’s value in a team.”
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The next race is going to be the Miami GP. Let’s see if Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz’s feedback from Imola helps them in the next race. It would be so fascinating to see how Alex Albon also performs in the Miami GP.
