Alex Albon insists his motivation to succeed has been unaffected by the change in competitiveness he has skilled together with his change from Crimson Bull to Williams.
Two years in the past, Albon was within the midst of the one full season with a single group he has accomplished in F1, that being at Crimson Bull following his promotion from Toro Rosso midway via the earlier marketing campaign.
In an RB16 automobile with which Max Verstappen was difficult for normal podium finishes and the occasional win, Albon claimed a greatest place of third within the Tuscan and Bahrain Grands Prix – however these and different outcomes didn’t show sufficient to maintain his seat for the next 12 months.
After a season as Crimson Bull’s check and reserve driver, with Sergio Perez changing him alongside Verstappen, Albon was known as up by Williams to step into Mercedes-bound George Russell’s place for 2022.
Now, after all, with Williams having been among the many backmarkers in current seasons, Albon finds himself usually on the reverse finish of the pack from the place he was in 2020 – however that has no influence on his willpower to realize the very best end result.
Requested throughout an interview with Auto Motor und Sport the way it feels to not at present have an opportunity of ending within the prime positions, Albon replied: “It has no affect on my motivation. I’m decided to show to individuals what I’m able to.
“I nonetheless have just a few scores to settle with System 1. In fact, the angle is a bit completely different. Factors are like victories for us. However you quickly perceive that.
“I nonetheless have a number of enjoyable. We are able to see the progress. It could be harder if we didn’t develop additional.”
Learn extra: Williams’ first half of the season reviewed – is it time to say goodbye to Nicholas Latifi?
How massive a change has Alex Albon skilled from Crimson Bull to Williams?
Basically, when it comes to competitiveness, it doesn’t get a lot greater in System 1.
Albon may even depend himself a contact unfortunate to not have turn into an F1 race winner at Crimson Bull. He had a sniff of victory within the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix till a tangle with Lewis Hamilton for which the Mercedes driver was penalised, whereas in the identical 12 months’s Turkish GP one other potential alternative went begging.
Now, he’s on the group which, barring an enormous enchancment within the second half of the season, will end backside of the Constructors’ Championship.
Their solely three factors scored got here courtesy of high-quality drives from Albon in Australia and Miami.
Requested how troublesome the transition had been, the 26-year-old mentioned: “In fact Crimson Bull have monetary benefits, which nonetheless have an impact even with the funds cap.
“However when it comes to construction and dealing strategies, each groups are very comparable. The dynamic additionally all the time relies on the personalities of the employees.”
Having simply signed a brand new multi-year contract with Williams, Albon clearly has religion that higher occasions are simply across the nook.