A look at Alexander Albon’s junior career from karting through to F2.
The British Grand Prix is not only home to British motorsports, but a home race for a number of drivers on the 2024 Formula 1 grid. One of those drivers who will be home here at Silverstone is Thai-British driver Alex Albon.
Williams driver Alexander Albon joined Formula 1 in 2019, driving for both Toro Rosso and Red Bull. Since joining Williams, Albon has delivered good performances. In the 2023 season, he earned 96% of Williams’ points.
His impressive performances had him being linked with a move to Mercedes, and back to Red Bull. However, Albon debunked these rumours when it was announced that he had signed a contract extension with Williams. Showing his dedication to Williams, back in May, he signed a multi-year contract that will keep Albon until at least the end of the 2026 season.
Karting
Alex Albon began karting in 2005 and started competing in the Cadet class the next year. In 2006 he won the Kartmasters British Grand Prix, as well as the Super 1 National Championship.
In 2008, he progressed to the KF3 class, staying there through to 2010. While in the KF3 class, he won the Kartmasters British Grand Prix, Formula Kart Stars, Super 1 National Championship, KF Winter Series, CIK-FIA European Championship and the CIK-FIA World Cup.
Albon moved to the KF2 and KF1 classes in his final year of karting – 2011. He was runner-up in the KF1 class of the WSK Euro Series and the CIK-FIA World Championship.
Formula Renault 2.0
In 2012, Alex Albon advanced to single-seater racing. His debut was at the 2012 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the 2012 Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Series, where he was P38 and P16 respectively.
The next year, at the 2013 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 he was P16 in the Drivers’ Championship. Albon competed in only one round of the 2013 Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup.
In 2014, he had a better season. He was P3 in the Drivers’ Championship of the 2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 with 3 podium finishes. That same year, Albon got 1 win while competing in three rounds of the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup.
Formula 2 and GP3
Alexander Albon made his Formula 3 debut at the 2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship. He had 5 podium finishes, claiming P7 in the Drivers’ Championship. At the Macau Grand Prix in 2015, he retired from the qualification race but went on to finish the main race in P13.
At the 2016 GP3 Series, Albon was P2 in the Drivers’ Championship, 25 points behind Charles Leclerc. Albon had the most wins that season, with 4, and had 3 further podium finishes. He was P4 at the qualifying race of the 2016 Masters of Formula 3 and finished the main race in P5.
Formula 2
The Thai-British driver made his F2 debut at the 2017 Formula 2 Championship, where he finished P10 in the Drivers’ Championship. In the 2018 season, he finished P3 in the Drivers’ Championship behind George Russell and Lando Norris. He won 4 races that season and had 4 further podium finishes.
The following year, Alex Albon went on to make his F1 debut. He drove for Red Bull’s sister team in the first 11 races of the season, before replacing Pierre Gasly at Red Bull for the remainder of the season. Albon finished his first season in F1 in P8 in the Drivers’ Championship.
