Alex Albon: Hamilton to Ferrari bombshell a “pinch yourself” moment

Alex Albon is under contract at Williams until the end of 2025, team principal James Vowles has revealed, meaning the 27-year-old could be blocked from replacing Lewis Hamilton next season if Mercedes came calling.

Albon is one of a number of highly regarded drivers being linked to the empty seat at Mercedes, which opened up last week after the bombshell news that the seven-time champ will be joining Ferrari in 12 months’ time despite agreeing a new deal with the Silver Arrows in August.

“Alex is signed in Williams until the end of 2025,” said Vowles. “It is our job to create an environment that deserves someone of the calibre of Alex. Simple as that. He is an incredible driver that deserves his place towards the front.

“He did drives last year that are no different to some of the other champions I’ve worked with. He kept half the field behind at one race. We put him in difficult positions and he overcame that to score points.”

Albon delivered a strong campaign in 2023, outscoring rookie teammate Logan Sargeant by 27 points to one and winning the qualifying head-to-head 22-0.

But would Vowles stand in his way if Mercedes made a generous offer? “I have a responsibility towards the team,” said Vowles. “So should any decision go that way, it’s because I’m very clear in my mind that I’ve made the decisions that are correct for the team’s long-term goals, not short term.” That’s not a ‘no’...

Meanwhile, Alex himself says - rather diplomatically, we might add - that the rumours about his future are “not really my area”, with his full focus on the team’s new FW46 and the season ahead, although he concedes that “questions, general chats” are happening behind the scenes, and that “time will tell” if they lead to anything.

“I feel like I’m very close to my peak,” said the Thai driver. “I feel like I’m deserving of a car that can score podiums and fight for wins, and that’s just being totally honest with how I see myself.

“More than anything I want that team to be Williams, and that’s where I put all my work and all my effort into.”

And his thoughts on Lewis’s Ferrari switch? “Great for the sport, firstly,” he says. “What a news story it was. I definitely didn’t see it coming. But good for him. I think he wants that change-up.

“For me it just shows you how big Lewis is. Seeing the stock of Ferrari going up as much as it did [by $7bn in a day]... it was one of those pinch yourself moments. Is this a real story?”

Yup, it really, really happened. Who among you would lob a few million Williams’ way to sign Albon as George Russell’s teammate for 2025?