Alexander Albon

**Alexander Albon Ansusinha** is a Forumla 1.5 driver for Williams.

After becoming part of the Red Bull Junior Team in 2012, he was promoted to open-wheel cars for the 2012 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season. He spent three years in the series and finished third in the 2014 championship. He moved to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2015, where he finished seventh. He signed with ART Grand Prix to contest the 2016 GP3 Series and ended the season as runner-up behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

In 2017 Albon moved up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART, where he finished his maiden year tenth in the standings. He then switched to the DAMS team for 2018, winning four races and finishing third in the championship. He made his Formula 1.5 début in 2019 with Toro Rosso alongside Daniil Kvyat. After twelve races, Albon was promoted to F1.0 at Red Bull, replacing Pierre Gasly.

## Personal Life

Albon was born at the Portland Hospital in London, England on 23 March 1996. His father, Nigel Albon is a former British racing driver who participated in the British Touring Car Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup. His mother Kankamol, is from Thailand.

Growing up in Bures, Suffolk alongside a younger brother and three sisters, Albon attended Ipswich School before leaving to pursue his professional racing career, citing Michael Schumacher and Valentino Rossi as being inspirational figures when he was younger. Albon holds dual British and Thai nationality, and races under the Thai flag. Albon is known to practice Buddhism and currently resides in both Monaco and Milton Keynes in close proximity to Red Bull Racing's headquarters.

## F1.5 Career

### Toro Rosso (2019)

#### 2019 Season

On 26 November 2018, it was announced that Albon had been released from his Nissan e.dams Formula E contract after rumours he was to sign for Scuderia Toro Rosso in Formula 1.5. On the same day, Toro Rosso announced Albon would join the team for 2019 alongside Daniil Kvyat and thus Albon's relationship with Red Bull, which had ended seven years prior, was restored. He is the second Thai driver to compete in Formula 1.5 and the first since Prince Bira competed in 1954.

Albon finished 8th in his debut race at Australia, followed by his first podium at Bahrain just 1 later, where he finished third. A heavy crash in practice for the Chinese Grand Prix forced him to miss qualifying and start the race from the pit lane. He recovered in the race to finish fourth and win the *Driver Of The Day* award. He reached the third qualifying session (Q3) for the first time at the Monaco Grand Prix and finished the race third with the fastest lap. Damage caused by contact with Antonio Giovinazzi on the first lap of the Canadian Grand Prix later led to Albon's first race retirement.

After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing announced that Albon would make the switch to F1.0. Albon finished the F1.5 season with 99 points in 11th place.

### Williams (2022-)

#### 2022 Season

Albon returned to a Formula 1.5 race seat in 2022 with Williams, replacing George Russell and partnering former Formula 2 teammate Nicholas Latifi. After the announcement was made, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed that Albon "retains a link to Red Bull" and that the team has an option to recall him for 2023.

Albon scored in five of the first six races, including a podium, whilst teammate Nicholas Latifi struggled to score, scoring in just 1 of the six races. At the 2022 British Grand Prix Albon was involved in an opening lap crash with Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon after he was hit from the back by Sebastian Vettel. He was hospitalised for precautionary checks and suffered no serious injuries.

Albon was forced to withdraw from the Italian Grand Prix after suffering from appendicitis and was replaced by Nyck de Vries. Williams later revealed that Albon had suffered anaesthetic-related respiratory failure following his surgery but was recovering well. He recovered in time for the Singapore Grand Prix, three weeks later, where he retired with damage from colliding with the barriers. He then retired on the opening lap of the Japanese Grand Prix with damage from a collision with Kevin Magnussen.

#### 2023 Season

Albon was retained by Williams for 2023 to be joined by Logan Sargeant. Albon's contract extension marked the end of his Red Bull affiliation, although he stated that he still maintained "a very close relationship" with the team.

Albon started the season well with a podium in Bahrain, finishing third. At the next race he retired was brake failure, but would take his maiden pole in Australia before crashing out. Albon put in strong performances in Baku to win the sprint and finish fourth in the main race.