Alex Albon has downplayed any extra pressure from Red Bull after significantly trailing teammate Max Verstappen during the Styrian Grand Prix.
The London-born Thai driver officially only finished 11 seconds behind the Dutchman in the final classification but at one point the gap was over 40s, with Max a second per lap faster.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitted the team would look into the pace difference, pointing to Albon’s struggled at the start of the race though noting his stronger speed towards the end.
And Albon too put it down to poor race management.
“It was one kind of poor start to the race in race two and that was more or less the main issue,” he said. “So I don’t think there needs to be a panic.
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“It’s just managing the tyres a bit better and knowing when to push, when not to push. That’s more or less it at the moment. I think once I get a bit more comfortable with a car the pace will come as well.
“I’m improving each time,” he added. “I think coming here we have a much better understanding of the car, the car’s feeling good, it’s just about being up there and being consistent with it.”
Such a gap though did bring back of memories of Pierre Gasly last year struggling to even beat the top midfield cars, with Albon having to hold off Sergio Perez for a while.
And of course it was after the Hungarian GP last year that Red Bull dropped the Frenchman in favour of Albon from Spa, though of course after many more races.
But for now, at least, the 25-year-old isn’t feeling any extra pressure to improve.
“It’s still the same,” he said. “Formula 1 is Formula 1, every driver is under pressure to perform.
“Of course I know I’ve got to do a good job, but it’s been like that since I’ve been eight years old so nothing really changes.”
