Alex Albon has played down his recent results as Red Bull vow patience in making a decision over his future.
A difficult 2020 has left the Thai driver battling to keep his seat alongside Max Verstappen for next season, with Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg identified as potential replacements.
However, Red Bull has continued to insist Albon remains their ‘Plan A’ for 2021, and team boss Christian Horner hopes he can end the speculation on track.
“Looking at today, he’s had a pretty decent day, probably his best Friday for quite a while,” he said after Albon was more comfortable than most on the slippy Istanbul Park track on Friday.
Also Read:
- Perez sponsors might give him boost to replace Albon at Red Bull
- Villeneuve blasts Red Bull as Albon given until Abu Dhabi to ‘prove his worth’
“As I’ve said all along, we want to see Alex lay claim to that seat. I think the difference is that [with] the alternatives we have, all the seats are full in Formula 1.
“So that buys us a little bit of time to make the most informed decision that we can, and of course give Alex as much time as we can and as much support as we can, and see what happens over the remaining three or four races.”
Previously, Red Bull had identified this weekend to confirm their 2021 line-ups but now that has been pushed back to whenever.
“We’re not putting any particular timescale on it,” Horner said.
“Alex’s contract allows us to make that decision after the season. Obviously, we’re aware of what the other options are.
“As I say, all the other seats are committed now in Formula 1, apart from Mercedes, and I doubt that Lewis [Hamilton] will be joining us next season. But you never know.”
Amid the encouragement to justify his seat for 2021, Albon hasn’t really delivered with only one point to his name since claiming his first podium at the Tuscan GP in September.
“Obviously Mugello was the last race that I had a good result on really but it hasn’t been terrible,” he claimed.
“I think qualifying hasn’t really changed too much… it’s been more or less the same, if not, sometimes a bit better.
“It’s more or a less losing a little bit of time at the start of the races and once you’re in the trains it’s really hard to overtake.
“I think Mugello was a nice one because you can overtake but it has been quite tricky once the leading car in the group let’s say dictates the rest. I would say that’s probably more of a reason for it.
“Of course, here Turkey it’s a good track for overtaking and you can do different lines. Firstly, I want to qualify higher and have a smoother race.”