Albon “disappointed and sorry” for a “mistake” that deprives the team of valuable points
Author of a stellar Australian weekend start aboard his FW45, Alex Albon encountered an accident as early as the seventh lap of the race, depriving Williams of valuable points.
Qualified in Q3 on Saturday, the Thai driver managed to secure the 8th position on the starting grid of the Australian Grand Prix, a very impressive performance that suggested the FW45 could score points during the race.
The next day, after the lights went out, Alex Albon managed to gain two additional positions following the collision between Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll at turn 3.
At the end of the third lap, the green flag is waved after the intervention of the safety car, and the Williams driver restarts properly, maintaining his P6. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, he triggers the first red flag of the race after going off at high speed in turn number seven.
“Yes, everything is fine, everything is fine,” Albon said after his accident.
I am more disappointed and sorry for the team than anything else. We had an excellent car today. I think even in the early laps of the race, we were strong. I was really happy with the car, it’s just very unfortunate.
« It is obviously disappointing. First of all, it’s my mistake and I apologize to the team… and especially when there are opportunities to score points today [when] there are a few cars that are not in their place, that are not in order, and it is at that moment that we need to do well. Everything was lining up until my mistake. Obviously, I am very angry at myself… »
A heartbreaking end to Alex Albon’s promising Grand Prix weekend 💔#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/yueJ1Ylpao
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
Tire overheating
A mistake that may not have happened if, as he says, he hadn’t widened a bit in turn 5.
« I went on the exit sidewalk [turn 5], I didn’t think too much about it, to be honest, but I mean, looking briefly at the data, it slightly increased the tire temperature and with these tires, with Pirelli tires, you get penalized if you slide, so I think that’s the cause. »
The team, which was in seventh place in the constructors’ standings before Melbourne, is now last in the championship with AlphaTauri.
