Alex Albon reflects on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race
After a season with ups and downs, Williams driver Alex Albon reflected on the team's performance during a complicated Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, even as he now looks towards 2025.
For the last race of the year, Alex Albon crossed the line in 11th position, narrowly missing out on scoring a point, after a series of challenging races that nonetheless solidified the Grove team’s place in 9th position in the Constructors’ Championship.
A series of significant crashes and an obvious lack of improvements at the end of the season forced the team to use some parts dating from the beginning of the year, thus limiting their performance on the Yas Marina circuit.
The two drivers also started the race with a five-place grid penalty for exceeding the gearbox component allocation. Despite this, Alex Albon managed to climb up the field, narrowly missing out on 10th place against Oscar Piastri in the closing laps.
« We worked with an old flat floor, an old engine, it was a kind of last stand, let’s say, this weekend », said Albon after the race. « We were good, I thought it was doable. With 20 laps to go, I thought, ‘It’s going to be tough, but we could make it.’
Honestly, the tires held up, but the temperature didn’t. With the track cooling down, I couldn’t go fast enough to keep the temperature in the tires. In the last 10 laps, the tires cooled down more and more, and it was fatal.
« It was a very difficult race, physically as well, just to keep the car on the track, but it was fun. I would have loved to finish this year on a positive note after such a tough end to the season, to reward the team. It wasn’t meant to be, but I think we can take some satisfaction from this race. »
Albon optimistic for 2025
As Williams prepares to welcome Carlos Sainz to the team, Albon has expressed optimism for significant progress next season.
He added: « I see it in two ways. I am here for the long-term success, not short-term, so I hope it will reward us. I hope we will have a better car next year, starting strong in Melbourne. That is the goal. »
On the other side of the garage, Franco Colapinto’s last race was disappointing. Replacing Logan Sargeant mid-season, he was hit by Oscar Piastri, which caused him a puncture, and an engine problem forced him to retire.
“It wasn’t a good day,” said the 21-year-old driver. “This is not the way I wanted to finish these first races in Formula 1, but I think it’s part of the journey.”
« I am nevertheless very grateful to Williams for the opportunity, and to James [Vowles] for the trust he placed in me by putting me in the car. I really appreciated this experience, so I am very grateful to the team, it’s a great family, and they worked hard to give me the best possible car race after race. Very happy for this opportunity, and I hope to be able to return in the future.
