Alex Albon found himself without a seat with Red Bull at the end of 2020, throwing doubt into his Formula 1 career. While spending 2021 out from racing action was difficult for Albon, in 2022 he managed to return with Williams where he secured an initial multi-year deal and made an immediate comeback into competition racing action.
Albon has established himself as an indispensable member of Williams, scoring consistent point scores while Carlos Sainz adjusts to life with Williams. Red Bull have taken notice and expressed interest in having Albon return after 2024 is complete.
Red Bull’s Interest Pre-2025
The latter part of 2024 saw Red Bull in a whirlwind both on and off the racetrack. With Verstappen clinching his fourth World Championship amidst a resurgent McLaren, Red Bull’s off-track maneuvers, particularly their decision to replace Sergio Perez, sparked widespread speculation.
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were initially viewed as potential replacements, but Red Bull also considered other talents beyond their own driver academy. Nevertheless, after considering various options, they revisited the idea of bringing back Albon, thanks to his commendable turnaround at Williams.
Albon has not returned to Red Bull despite an interest and historical connection through owner Charlem Yoovidhya; instead citing concerns over Red Bull’s competitiveness by 2026 due to engine development challenges as the main motivation. Meanwhile Mercedes are expected to boast one of the strongest engines, making Albon’s continuation with Williams more appealing as an option.
The Future for Red Bull’s Line-Up
Red Bull faces limited options when selecting drivers for its 2026 driver lineup, making finding suitable partners for Verstappen during his potential decline an immense challenge. Tsunoda could potentially solidify his place with improved performances by the latter half of 2025; and keeping Arvid Lindblad in Formula 2 may reflect Red Bull’s cautious approach towards driver promotion to ensure they can fully adapt to its demands before being promoted into Formula 1.