Williams star Alex Albon has confirmed he’s signed a new contract with the team much to the delight of team principal James Vowles.
The 2024 Formula 1 driver’s market Is incredibly volatile at this stage and Alex Albon is one of the few positives from the past 18 months for Williams.
The 44-year-old team principal took to Instagram to celebrate one of the biggest deals he could have completed this season.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship
James Vowles celebrates new Alex Albon Williams contract
The start of the 2024 campaign hasn’t gone as planned for Williams or Alex Albon.
At this stage of the season last year, Logan Sargeant was still on 0 points, and Albon had already got off the mark with a point at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Albon started his career in Formula 1 as one of Red Bull’s rising stars, racing for less than a season for Toro Rosso before being promoted to the senior team for the second half of the 2019 campaign.
Two podium finishes in 2020 spelt the end of his time with the team as he struggled up against Max Verstappen.
He spent a year on the sidelines helping Yuki Tsunoda adapt to Formula 1 before Williams offered him a seat on the grid in 2022.
Albon quite easily got the better of Nicholas Latifi during his first season and has similarly seen off Logan Sargeant since his introduction to the team last year.
It’s therefore no surprise that James Vowles is delighted that Albon has decided to sign a new contract with Williams.
Although he wasn’t among the host of drivers sweating over their futures at the end of the year, several teams were still sniffing around the 28-year-old.
James Vowles keen to build Williams project around Alex Albon
Posting on Instagram after the announcement, Vowles said: “Our project is not one of a year, but a transformation across many seasons as we fight back up the field.
“I am pleased to announce that Alex will be by our side for that journey, signing a multi-year deal to remain with Williams.
“I have had the fortune of knowing Alex for many years, he showed the world what he is capable of in 2023 and I cannot wait for us to build this team together over the years to come.”
READ MORE: Williams driver Alex Albon’s life outside F1 from net worth, girlfriend to parents
Who wanted to sign Alex Albon and who could join him at Williams?
Former Williams driver George Russell has joined Vowles in congratulating Albon on his new contract.
However, the Thai driver had been in the conversation to potentially partner Russell at Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari in 2025.
Red Bull have also been keen on Alex Albon with Max Verstappen’s future still being questioned and Sergio Perez out of contract soon.
Audi are also keeping their options open after signing Nico Hulkenberg and Albon was one of the names being floated.
Albon will be at Williams for the foreseeable future which is something that can’t be said for Logan Sargeant right now.
He looks very unlikely to retain his seat and a few drivers will be eyeing up a move to the Grove-based outfit.
Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli has been suggested for some time and could even replace Sargeant before the end of the season.
Toto Wolff could also try and place Esteban Ocon with the team and it’s hard to argue that the one-time race winner wouldn’t be an upgrade on the American.
The post ‘I cannot wait’: James Vowles posts message on Instagram after Williams confirm Alex Albon contract extension appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
