Can Albon return to F1?

Promoted maybe too early in the main team like his fellow drivers Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon is on the bench this season where Sergio Pérez replaces him at Red Bull and where rookie Yuki Tsunoda was preferred for the second seat at AlphaTauri.

The Thai remains under the umbrella of the Bull brand as he has been appointed as reserve driver for both teams and will also compete in some DTM races this season.

The role of reserve is “more important” than the DTM.

He also told Motorsport.com that his role as a third driver remains more important in view of a return than his commitment to the German touring car championship.

« As for my role, it’s more about doing my job as best as I can in the DTM championship, said Albon. « Many things in Formula 1 depend more on the performances of other drivers and the opportunities that arise. Of course, my role as a reserve, the work on the simulator, and the tests are much more important for returning to F1.

If in the past, boys like Paul Di Resta, Pascal Wehrlein, or Esteban Ocon went through the DTM before reaching the top category, it is clear that direct involvement in Formula 1 is significant to access the discipline.

« For the moment, the DTM allows me to stay sharp, to stay in shape. But I still want to come back to F1! If F1 doesn’t work out, then we’ll see. »

Alex Albon: « I always want to come back to F1! »

If F1 remains his priority, Albon reveals that continuing in DTM is not something I would refuse 100%.

The examples Kvyat, Hartley…

Will we see Albon back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car? Nothing is impossible when you look at recent examples.

If there is one that is perfect, it’s Daniil Kvyat’s. Promoted to Red Bull in 2015 following Sebastian Vettel’s departure and to the detriment of the Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne, the Russian was demoted to Toro Rosso on the sidelines of the famous Spanish Grand Prix in 2016, won by his replacement Max Verstappen following the collision between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

He will then be ejected from Red Bull’s little sister’s team in favor of Pierre Gasly and will find refuge at Ferrari as a reserve driver.

Following Daniel Ricciardo’s departure to Renault in 2019, Gasly was promoted to Red Bull and Toro Rosso, having no other options, called on the Russian for help! He stayed there until the end of last season with a podium in Germany in 2019!

We can also talk about Brendon Hartley. The New Zealander was supported by Red Bull in his early years but never had access to F1, choosing to go into Endurance racing, still supported by Red Bull but no longer as part of the young drivers program.

After a very honorable record, including a victory at Le Mans in 2017, he was urgently called back by Red Bull that same year for the United States Grand Prix to make his debut in the category for Toro Rosso: Carlos Sainz having left for Renault and Pierre Gasly fighting for the title in Super Formula in Japan.

Result: The New Zealander ends the season with Red Bull’s little sister team and races alongside Pierre Gasly throughout the following year as well.

…and his own!

Finally, how can we not talk about Alex Albon himself? Let go early by Red Bull in the promotion formulas, young Albon is making his way through the lower categories until F2 where he will finish 3rd in the 2018 championship dominated by two well-known names: George Russell and Lando Norris.

Driving for Dams that year, the late Jean-Paul Driot offers him a contract for several seasons in Formula E within his team Nissan e.Dams. The Thai driver does not hesitate and signs the contract and even takes part in pre-season tests.

But plot twist: Red Bull, not satisfied with Hartley’s performances at Toro Rosso and snubbed by Jean-Eric Vergne (freshly crowned in Formula E but demanding a Red Bull seat to fight for the win), is pushing to bring back Albon from Nissan e.Dams.

Driot, although unhappy, will not go against his driver’s wishes and will release Albon from his obligations in exchange for financial compensation from the Austrian brand.

The rest of the story is known… the next chapter not yet!

And you, do you think Albon can come back to F1?