(Motorsport) British born Thai driver Alex Albon will remain at Williams for the foreseeable future after the team extended his contract. The 26 year old joined Williams this season after being on the sidelines as a reserve driver for Red Bull. Despite the team struggling at the back of the grid this season, Albon has been impressive and secured three points under testing conditions. It remains to be seen who will be Albon’s partner for the 2023 season as Nicholas Latifi is expected to lose his seat while reigning Formula E champion Nyck de Vries is a possibility.

Speaking after his contract extension, Albon said “I am really excited to be staying with Williams Racing for 2023 and look forward to seeing what we can achieve as a team in the remainder of this season and next year. The team has made some strong gains this year and it’s exciting to continue this journey and further develop our learnings together.” The driver also made fun of the recent debacle between Oscar Piastri and Alpine by posting on Twitter “I understand that, with my agreement, Williams Racing have put out a press release this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is right and I have signed a contract with Williams for 2023. I will be driving for Williams next year.”

Team Principal Jost Capito added: “Alex is a tremendous driver and valued member of Williams Racing, so we’re thrilled to be able to confirm we will be working with him on a long-term basis. Alex brings a great blend of skill and insightful learnings that will help bring the team greater success in the future. He’s a fierce competitor, has proved a popular and loyal team member and we are delighted that he will provide a stable base for us to continue to develop in this new F1 car era.”

Albon’s contract extension with Williams is not a surprise. The driver has easily surpassed his teammate Nicholas Latifi and has performed admirably with the 2022 car. Moreover, having a driver that can perform consistently is exactly what Williams needs at the moment in their pursuit of pushing themselves up the grid. Albon has had a difficult time with Toro Rosso and Red Bull but has proved his naysayers wrong by pushing the Williams car to the limit, posting quick lap times in qualifying despite the obvious limitations in the car. 

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