Alex Albon has signed a new multi-year contract at Williams, the team announced on Wednesday. Albon’s previous deal still had another full season to run, but he wanted to put any doubt over his future to bed.
The Thai driver has rebuilt his reputation since joining the Grove outfit at the start of 2022. He’d spent 2021 on the sidelines after Red Bull dropped him in favour of Sergio Perez.
But Albon has found another level as the team leader at Williams, first alongside Nicholas Latifi and then up against Logan Sargeant. Last year, he scored 27 of their 28 points to deliver their best championship position since 2017 (seventh).
Williams have yet to score a point this season, having lost ground to their midfield rivals after a ‘shocking’ winter. But Albon clearly retains faith in their long-term trajectory.
The 28-year-old no doubt sits at the centre of James Vowles’ vision for the future. And with so many vacancies popping up in the 2025 grid, he was eager to tie him down.
Indeed,Vowles said on Instagram after the announcement that he and Albon would ‘build the team together’ in the coming years. He’s now committed for the team for the 2026 regulation changes, which pose one of the biggest challenges in the sport’s recent history.
Alex Albon stock fell after early crashes
Albon might have had his eyes on the opening at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton decided to join Ferrari. Racing driver Richard Bradley recently suggested that Toto Wolff may have a look at the Williams man.
There could also be a seat available at Red Bull if Sergio Perez fails to earn an extension or Max Verstappen leaves. Albon may feel he has unfinished business with the Milton Keynes outfit.
However, according to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, the interest from top teams has waned in the early part of the season. That’s because they’ve seen him involved ‘in a few crashes’.
Albon made a particularly consequential mistake at the Australian Grand Prix in March. He knew Williams didn’t have a spare chassis available but he caused severe damage with a crash in the opening practice session.
Williams weren’t able to fix it in time for the remainder of the weekend. That forced Vowles to make a difficult decision as he sidelined Sargeant and allowed Albon to race the one functioning car.
He was also involved in an incident at the start of the Japanese GP in March, crashing out of the race after a tangle with Daniel Ricciardo. The stewards didn’t award either driver a penalty, so they clearly deemed it a racing incident.
Red Bull had made 2026 offer to Alex Albon
Albon did have an offer, of sorts, on the table from Red Bull. They wanted the ‘first option’ on the 87-race driver if he chose to leave for 2026.
Christian Horner apparently saw him as number-one driver material if Verstappen left. It’s a move that would certainly have pleased the team’s majority Thai ownership.
Now, though, Albon has implicitly ruled out a return for the next few years at least. There may come a point where his ambition outgrows Williams, but that will depend upon the team’s progress.
His immediate focus will be earning his first points of the season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend. He’s come close on a few occasions, finishing 11th twice and 12th once, so he’ll feel a breakthrough is imminent.
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