After a season away from the circuits, Alex Albon will leave Red Bull in 2022 to replace George Russell at Williams , who has joined the Mercedes factory team.
However, Grove team principal Jost Capito assured that Nicholas Latifi will have the same opportunities to progress further. Both drivers have completed two full courses in F1, with Latifi having contested 39 races and Albon 38.
“Of course, it’s good for both of us,” Capito said. “I think for Alex it’s great to have this second chance to get back on the grid and lead the team moving forward.”
“He hasn’t come in saying, ‘Okay, I want to win races.’ It’s clear that he has to develop the team together with Nicholas, us, the engineers and everyone who works at Grove. And he seems to enjoy this role. great with Nicky.”
“We don’t have a number one and a number two, they’re both treated exactly the same. And Nicky can prevail if he does it right, there’s no doubt about it,” added one of the men who have changed Williams’ face.
Capito acknowledged that Latifi made good progress in 2021, but that the Canadian was inevitably overshadowed by Russell .
“Nicky has done a good job this year too, when you look at all the qualifying results and see the differences, they were never very big. And of course it’s a big challenge being George’s teammate. He has done very well and has improved a lot throughout this season”.
“So I’m sure he can still improve more, because it was only his second season here. And his debut last year was a really strange year with COVID-19 and a lot of new circuits coming up, it was tough for him, but he did a brilliant job.”
The Williams team principal says that the relationship established between Albon and Latifi from their days in Formula 2 is a great advantage for the team.
“Alex and Nicholas raced together as teammates in 2018. So they already know and respect each other a lot. George and Alex are personal friends. I think Alex is the perfect fit for the team in the situation we find ourselves in now.” .
“For Alex I think it’s a great second chance. And I’m sure he fits in well with our environment. We’ll have a lot of fun with him, and he with us. I’m sure he’ll perform very well.”
Regarding Russell ‘s departure, Capito had this to say: “George is a great team leader. To say he is a diamond in the rough would not be enough. He is already a polished diamond.”
“And that he is not at his best yet, I think he can still improve. But at the stage he is now he is already a great asset for all the teams. And that’s how it was for us.”
“On the one hand we are sad that he is leaving, but on the other that was to be expected. We are very happy that he has this opportunity,” Jost Capito concluded.
