Alex Albon wasn’t expecting to keep Lewis Hamilton behind him before their late collision at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
On course for his first Formula 1 podium having moved up to second following the second Safety Car, the Red Bull driver faced his toughest test yet of trying to keep the world champion at bay.
However, it would all go wrong when the Mercedes driver went for a gap which was always going to close into the Bico de Pato hairpin, with the ensuing contact dropping Albon outside the points.
“It’s a shame because I think he would have overtaken me anyway into Turn 1 because he obviously had the fresher tyres and he was looking racy,” he said.
The Thai driver also dismissed he had been fortunate to get into position for the podium having capitalised on the Safety Car to produce a brilliant move on Sebastian Vettel at the restart.
“It was kind of on credit as well, it wasn’t like we lucked into it too much,” he claimed. “We had the Safety Car but the battle with the Ferraris was good fun and I felt like we deserved to be there.
“But it wasn’t meant to be so, [on to the] next race.”
On the day Pierre Gasly also stole what would have been his headlines in second place, team boss Christian Horner was also quick to console Albon.
“I’m gutted for Alex. I told him his time’s going to come and it’s a drive to be proud of, he made a move on some experienced world champions there and his time will come,” the Red Bull boss said.
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“It’s a deceptive corner because that is the racing line that Alex is on and Lewis has made a bit of a half-hearted attempt up the inside.
“The contact’s been made and he’s had to wait until right until the end of the queue, but it’s just looked like a half-hearted effort.”
