Alex Albon signs multi-year contract extension with Williams

Alex Albon has signed a multi-year contract extension with Williams, which will keep him at the team into Formula 1’s new regulation era when it kicks off in 2026.

The London-born Thai driver was handed a race seat opportunity by Williams for the start of the 2022 season, having lost his drive with Red Bull at the end of 2020 and spent a year as the team’s test and reserve driver.

Upon his return to front-line racing, Albon quickly showed his class with a series of assured drives, using his prowess in the improved 2023 Williams FW45 to net 27 of the team’s eventual 28 points that season, a feat that earned them P7 in the constructors’ standings – their best finish since 2017.

And despite Williams being one of two squads in 2024 – along with Kick Sauber – yet to get off the mark, Albon has put his faith in the Dorilton Capital-backed team heading into Formula 1’s new regulation cycle in 2026, signing a multi-year extension to remain at Williams.

Speaking of the contract extension, Albon said: “I am incredibly happy to be remaining with Williams Racing and to continue working with such a talented and dedicated team of people.

“It has been a difficult start to the year but since joining Williams we have made significant progress together and I have seen the huge changes happening behind the scenes to take us back to the front of the grid.

“This is a long-term project that I really believe in and want to play a key role in which is why I have signed a multi-year contract.

“The journey will take time but I am confident we are building the right team to move forward and achieve great things in the years to come.”

James Vowles, Williams’ Team Principal since January 2023, added: “We are delighted to secure Alex’s long-term future with Williams Racing.

“He has exceptional talent, technical input and dedication to the cause and this is a huge vote of confidence in Williams and the journey back to competitiveness that we are on.

“Since joining, Alex has consistently demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure, and signing him for the long-term is a big piece of the puzzle of moving us up the grid.”

With Albon’s future shored up at Williams, attentions will now turn to who will be racing alongside him in 2025, with the team having recently admitted that they’re speaking to “four or five drivers” as they weigh up whether to continue with incumbent Logan Sargeant for a third season – the team are believed to be one of several considering employing the services of Mercedes junior and F2 racer Kimi Antonelli.

Meanwhile, Williams have also been touted as a potential landing spot for Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s out-going Chief Technical Officer, who secured his first ever drivers’ and constructors’ championships with the team during their mid-1990s heyday.