Speculation regarding a potential comeback for Alex Albon at Red Bull has been fuelled by comments from team boss Christian Horner, as noted by Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz.
Albon’s impressive performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he secured a seventh-place finish with Williams, caught Horner’s attention and led to questions about the team’s future plans.
During qualifying, Albon and Williams made a bold strategic decision by opting for dry tires in a rain-affected session.
This gamble paid off, with Albon topping Q2 and ultimately starting the race from ninth position.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
On race day, the Williams FW45’s straight-line speed proved advantageous once again, allowing Albon to secure a commendable seventh-place finish, just under 10 seconds behind Sergio Perez in the Red Bull.
Previously, Albon occupied the second seat at Red Bull but struggled to match the performance level of his teammate, Max Verstappen.
Consequently, Albon was demoted to the role of test and reserve driver for 2021 before returning to the grid with Williams in 2022, where he has consistently impressed and secured a multi-year deal.
Although Albon is no longer affiliated with Red Bull, Horner’s recent acknowledgment of his Canada performance has raised eyebrows.
Kravitz questioned why Horner would highlight Albon’s drive and speculated whether Red Bull is considering a reunion due to Perez’s recent decline in form.
Responding to a fan question on the Sky F1 podcast about Perez deserving the second Red Bull seat, Kravitz remarked: “Yes, although Christian Horner was quick to praise Alex Albon, wasn’t he? I thought that was interesting…”
Kravitz noted that Albon has severed ties with Red Bull and no longer carries the Red Bull logo on his helmet. However, he still maintains connections with the Yoovidhya family, who are major shareholders of Red Bull and have business interests in Thailand.
While a potential return for Albon is not unprecedented, as he was previously recalled for the 2019 campaign, rejoining Red Bull would be a significant decision for the Thai racer.
Having experienced the disappointment of being dropped by the team once before, Albon is now thriving at Williams.
READ: Aston Martin mock Mercedes for giving Lewis Hamilton false information
It is uncertain whether he would be willing to risk a renewed partnership with Verstappen and potentially endure a similar outcome.
Furthermore, Red Bull currently has several internal options to consider should they decide to replace Perez, although advisor Helmut Marko has stated that such a change is not on the cards.
Yuki Tsunoda’s impressive performance at AlphaTauri and the availability of experienced reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo provide alternative choices for the team.