Red Bull passed up a chance to re-sign Alex Albon for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign according to Sky Sports F1 pundit Ted Kravitz.
Albon was promoted mid-way through his rookie season at Toro Rosso to race alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2019.
The Anglo-Thai driver struggled against Verstappen across a season and a half, forcing him to sit on the sidelines in 2021 after being replaced by Sergio Perez.
Albon has since made a successful return to F1 with Williams whereas Perez’s time in the sport has recently come to an end after being let go by Red Bull.
Red Bull opted to replace Perez with Liam Lawson but Kravitz revealed a clause in Albon’s Williams contract could have seen him return to the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
“As I understand it, there is a get-out clause in Albon’s Williams contract that basically allows him to leave if Red Bull come knocking again,” Kravitz said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.
“Williams could have run Franco Colapinto and Carlos Sainz, perfect, and Albon, at least, would have been a known measure against Verstappen.
“Albon is so much older and wiser and knows how to handle Max and the whole situation and I don’t know why they haven’t done that.”
Albon, however, signed a multi-year contract extension with Williams earlier this year and appears committed to the Grove-based outfit having said: “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.”
Albon: Lawson found himself in a ‘win-win’ situation
Albon knows first-hand how an inexperienced driver can suffer alongside Verstappen at Red Bull.
Lawson, with just 11 GP starts has a lot of learning to do to survive in the Red Bull environment.
Asked to comment on the potential of Lawson getting the nod at the Sao Paulo GP, Albon told media including Motorsport Week: “I think Liam’s in a win-win!
“I feel like worst case scenario he’s in a [Racing Bulls car], so in my head do you need to jump into the main team that quickly against Max?
“From my experience, it’s not a bad thing to spend a couple of years learning your craft a bit more.
“But of course, if there’s an opportunity and you’re going to have the opportunity, you have to take it.”
READ MORE – Alex Albon warns Liam Lawson against premature Red Bull F1 promotion
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