Alex Albon will return to Formula 1 in 2022. With a long list of roles – reserve and test drivers, mentors – Albon is once again an F1 driver. Albons membership in special roles goes back a long way, from which George Russell and Charles Leclerc benefited.
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Before Albon became a KF1 driver, he had already shaped the big names. He recently revealed in a podcast that he has a special role. “I was the reference driver / the one they asked, ‘Who should we vote for next year?'”
Formula 1 F1 – Dutch Grand Prix – Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands – September 4th, 2021 Williams’ George Russell in qualifying REUTERS / Benoit Tessier
With many drivers queuing for a top-level spot in karting, George Russell, Charles Leclerc and even Esteban Ocon were in the mix. “There were a couple of them and I was the reference driver and I said, ‘Listen, these guys are fast, these guys, maybe not that fast’ and George and Charles were there.”
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Although he is sure that his friends would have made it anyway, Albon likes to think that he had the strings in this situation. The position of power made Albon feel like Helmut Marko, or at least a 14-year-old version of him.
Alex Albon analyzes the growth of his colleagues as racing drivers
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Albon was one step ahead of his good friends and remembers how much potential they had already shown in their karting days as drivers. Albon is particularly close to Russell, whose place he will take at Williams next season. Looking back, he tells how the Briton also proved his skills back then.
“I remember George was that young, young kid. We’re the same size now, but he was much shorter than me then. I think Charles joined later in the year, but George was already the fastest of the boys. Anyone else I could just drive away and drive away, but George … he’s keeping up. “
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While Russell’s skills have earned him a place at Mercedes, Albon is better prepared than ever for his debut season at Williams. The two drivers have a lot to prove, will the 2022 season be friendly to the friends?
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