Amidst speculation of a potential reunion between Red Bull Racing and Alex Albon, Dr. Helmut Marko has tempered the notion, highlighting the impressive resurgence of both Albon and Williams in recent times.
Albon, now at the wheel of a Williams, showcased a noteworthy performance during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, consistently securing a spot within the top 5 or 6 drivers before finishing eighth in the race.
This resurgence prompted discussions about a possible return to Red Bull, especially considering the struggles faced by Max Verstappen’s current teammate, Sergio Perez, who had replaced Albon in 2021.
Addressing the situation, Marko emphasised that Sergio Perez’s contract for 2024 remains intact and affirmed the team’s focus on pressuring him to perform better, particularly with the aim of securing second place in the championship standings.
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Marko stated, “We are pressuring him to do better, as we want to finish second in the championship.”
When asked about the prospect of reuniting with Albon, Marko adopted a cautious stance, acknowledging Albon’s improvement but noting the challenge of finding a driver who matches Max Verstappen’s caliber.
“Max’s teammate has a very tough and difficult life,” Marko remarked.
“Albon has already had his chance.
“He has improved remarkably since then, but at the moment there is no driver who is on Max’s level.”
Amidst the discussions surrounding Albon’s performance, the impressive strides made by the Williams team since the appointment of James Vowles as boss this year have also caught the attention of the Formula 1 community.
Max Verstappen praised the resurgence of both Albon and Williams, expressing his happiness for Albon’s commendable performance: “It’s been very impressive to see.
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“I’m very happy for Alex as well.
“I’m very happy for him to be up there.”
Former Williams driver George Russell also commended the team’s progress under Vowles’ leadership, saying:
“Williams is making a huge amount of progress at the moment and I think James Vowles is having a really positive impact there.”