Ex-Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan believes Alex Albon deserves a second chance at Red Bull, with the Irishman believing that the Williams driver could “really be mustard”.
Albon previously competed for Red Bull from mid-2019 to the conclusion of the 2020 season, after being promoted from the sister team to replace Pierre Gasly.
However, similarly to Gasly, Albon was dropped for not performing at a high enough level, with Max Verstappen having been clear of the Thai driver.
Whilst Gasly was demoted back to AlphaTauri, Albon was left without a seat on the F1 grid and instead spent 2021 racing in DTM.
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Of course, Albon returned to F1 in 2022 courtesy of a seat at Williams, where he replaced George Russell following his move to Mercedes.
Some wondered if Albon had the ability to lead Williams like Russell did, something he’s done significantly more than.
Albon has taken the Grove-based team back into the midfield, with him being a somewhat regular top 10 qualifier and finisher.
Williams claimed seventh in the Constructors’ Championship last season, almost entirely thanks to Albon’s performances.
In his first campaign with Williams in 2022, Albon cut all his ties with the Red Bull family, to primarily focus on the historic side.
However, Jordan thinks it’s now time that Red Bull try and fight to get Albon back to replace the driver that took his place, Sergio Perez.
Jordan believes that Albon “might be a big surprise” alongside Verstappen given that he’s now matured as a driver, putting him in a position where he could compete with the Dutchman more than Perez currently does.
“I have a real soft spot for Albon,” Jordan said on the Formula For Success podcast.
“I just think that given the right situations I think he could really, really be mustard.
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“I would like to see at some stage that he be given the chance alongside Max, because I think he might be a big surprise.”
After signing a multi-year extension in 2022, the general understanding is that Albon is contracted to Williams until the end of this year.
With Perez’s deal also being up at the end of 2024, theoretically, an unexpected return could happen.