Alex Albon has signed a one-year contract extension with Williams to proceed driving for the group till the top of the 2027 Formulation 1 season.
The British-born Thai driver’s present deal had been set to run out on the finish of 2026, however has now secured his future forward of the game resuming after its summer season break with the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.
Albon has scored simply 5 factors in the course of the opening 11 rounds of the season, with Williams performing effectively under expectations after the introduction of the brand new laws in the beginning of this 12 months.
Albon mentioned: “Since becoming a member of Atlassian Williams F1 Staff in 2022, the transformation this group has made is tough to place into phrases.
“One robust 12 months does not inform the total image, and it solely offers me extra motivation to maintain constructing and pushing along with the manufacturing facility and our followers to realize nice issues.
“Our story just isn’t over but, so my full focus now’s on doing no matter it takes to get us again up the grid.”
The 2027 marketing campaign can be Albon’s sixth season with Williams and his eighth in F1. The 30-year-old grew to become the primary driver to carry up 100 races for the group on the ultimate spherical earlier than the summer season break in Hungary, having earlier within the season surpassed Nigel Mansell’s file of 95.
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Alex Albon’s supervisor Jacques Heckstall-Smith discusses what Formulation One drivers are sometimes searching for out of their contracts.
Williams group principal James Vowles mentioned: “I’m delighted that Alex and Atlassian Williams F1 Staff are persevering with our extraordinary journey collectively.
“Alex has been a frontrunner of this transformation undertaking since day one and we’ve loads of unfinished enterprise that we’re decided to realize.
“Alex is likely one of the finest drivers on the grid and is aware of higher than anybody the big enhancements we’ve made in recent times – re-signing him reveals the idea we each have within the route we’re heading.”
The way forward for Albon’s team-mate Carlos Sainz stays unsure with the Spaniard, whose deal expires on the finish of 2026, having expressed doubts over whether or not he needs to proceed with Williams amid their ongoing struggles.
The short-term nature of Albon’s deal maybe displays reservations of his personal about remaining with the group long run, but in addition that there aren’t any sensible alternate options obtainable to him in the mean time.
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Alex Albon loses hydraulic energy in his Williams and is out of FP1 on the Australian GP.
Albon started his F1 profession with Toro Rosso in 2019 earlier than being promoted to drive for Crimson Bull in the course of the season.
Nonetheless, after struggling alongside Max Verstappen he was let go on the finish of 2020, and ended up with out a seat for 2021 earlier than becoming a member of Williams the next 12 months.
Albon’s most profitable season for Williams got here final 12 months when he completed eighth on the earth championship, with the group claiming fifth within the constructors’ standings and showing effectively positioned to push on below the brand new laws.
Nonetheless, that has not materialised, with Williams third from backside in 2026 on simply 11 factors regardless of possessing the Mercedes energy unit that has powered the Silver Arrows to a commanding lead on the high of the standings.
The Formulation 1 season resumes after the summer season break with a Dash weekend on the Dutch Grand Prix from Friday, with each session dwell on Sky Sports activities. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime