Albon to keep Red Bull sponsorship in 2022 - Capito
"I don’t want to talk about the details of the contract"
Alex Albon will wear Red Bull branding on his helmet next year, Williams boss Jost Capito has admitted.
Prior to the Red Bull reserve driver signing to drive for Williams in 2022, the boss of the team’s engine supplier - Mercedes’ Toto Wolff - expressed concerns about Albon’s Red Bull links.
Ultimately, however, while confidentiality clauses were worked into the deal and Albon’s direct ties to Red Bull and Alpha Tauri will be halted next year, the British-born Thai driver remains a member of the Red Bull family.
Christian Horner, for instance, is not ruling out a return to one of Red Bull’s teams for 25-year-old Albon in 2023.
"I don’t want to talk about the details of the contract," said Capito, when asked at Sochi if Williams might really lose Albon after just one season.
"The only thing I can say is that he will be an official Williams driver with no contract with Red Bull.
"He does have a contract with the Thai division of Red Bull, which has been his personal sponsor throughout his career. He has the right to have personal sponsors," Capito insists.
Meanwhile, he thinks Albon will only be released to start work at Williams once the 2021 season is over.
"He’s working a lot in their (Red Bull’s) simulator before the races," said Capito.
"His contract with us begins in January, but we’ll discuss it with Red Bull and see if they will let him go after the final race of the season."
Red Bull
Marko ’surprised’ by ongoing three-year Mercedes slump
Red Bull eyes both McLaren drivers ’for the future’
Marko: Basically, it’s about bringing calm to the team now
Marko not ruling out dropping Ricciardo within 2024
More on Red Bull
Williams F1
Crashes to have ’medium term’ effect on Williams
Williams ’very worried’ about chassis, spare parts crisis
Sargeant crashed Albon’s repaired chassis at Suzuka
Sargeant unlikely to be sidelined again at Suzuka
Verstappen would ’destroy’ car in Sargeant’s situation
More on Williams F1