Latest news with #AlexanderAlbon


Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Alex Albon Reveals Hope for 2026 Regulation F1 Car: 'Wasn't That Shocked'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Williams Racing Formula One driver Alex Albon has opened up about his experience with the 2026 F1 car on the simulator back at the team's headquarters in Grove. Albon gave an honest assessment, revealing that the car of the new era is much different and more difficult to drive than the current car. F1 will experience the onset of new regulations next year, where cars will be powered equally by electric power and an internal combustion engine. The 2026 car will also be lighter and slightly smaller, featuring active aerodynamics on the front and rear wings. Albon addressed the media ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, revealing his first impression of the 2026 car. He said: "It's difficult. It's difficult to drive. Technologically, the load on the driver is immensely high as well. Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams answers questions in the TV media pen during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 6, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams answers questions in the TV media pen during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 6, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom."It's quite important to know how to use the engine and the deployment, and you have to learn a different driving style. But it's part of the regulations. It's technology at the end of the day. "So on our side, I wasn't that shocked by the car — the performance of the car. It was more just getting my head around the PU and understanding how to make the most of that." When quizzed about his overall experience of the 2026 car, and if the Grands Prix next year would be different from what fans are used to watching, Albon said: "I honestly can't tell you. I don't think... in the end, I just want good racing. I think we all just want good racing. "I'm not sure the speeds of the cars or the way they're driven is going to change too much. I don't think it's going to become kind of Formula E style, where you're getting these massive lift-and-coast sessions and all those kinds of things. "But I don't think it'll change too much." Albon added that drivers will have an additional role to play, apart from just going round the corners as fast as possible. He said: "There is a lot that the driver has to do. I don't think it will always purely come down to how good the driver is around the corner. A driver who's quite smart and can understand the system — and even abuse the system, understand how it works, and become efficient with it — they're going to find performance in that as well." Considering the other drivers haven't had many positive things to say about the 2026 car, Albon added: "I'm not moaning. I'm just saying it's different — like, it's really different to drive. I think the drivers that are really going to go well on this are the ones that can be really adaptable. "I think you're going to have to have a very open-minded approach to how to drive these cars. And I believe that the drivers who have the capacity to drive and understand how to drive them... you know, even these cars now, at the end of the day, you're driving them flat out. "There's a bit of PU clipping and all these kinds of things, but for next year, it's going to be a bit more of a complete package in terms of how you get that out of them."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Frustration and slow driving at Monaco GP as F1 rule change backfires
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands gets a pit service during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Gabriel Bouys/Pool Photo via AP) Williams driver Alexander Albon of Thailand steers his car during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Williams driver Alexander Albon of Thailand steers his car during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands gets a pit service during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Gabriel Bouys/Pool Photo via AP) Williams driver Alexander Albon of Thailand steers his car during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack in Monaco, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Going slow was one way to secure points at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday as Formula 1's much-hyped attempt to shake up the prestigious race brought little drama. Overtaking is near-impossible on Monaco's narrow streets. To make the race more of a strategy contest, F1's governing body, the FIA, required two tire changes in the hope that smartly timed pit stops would create drama. Advertisement Last year's winner Charles Leclerc had predicted 'chaos' but instead it was a frustrating race for many drivers as some drove extra slowly to create a gap for a teammate in front to pit without losing positions. Mercedes driver George Russell argued the go-slow led to dangerous situations. Norris criticizes 'manufactured' racing Winner Lando Norris was scathing about the rule change, something he saw as an attempt to create 'manufactured racing.' Norris spent much of the race behind Max Verstappen, who delayed his second stop, hoping for a red-flag stoppage. That would have allowed a free tire change, and maybe given Verstappen the win. Advertisement 'There's not been any more overtaking here. I thought that was what was wanted,' Norris said. 'Now you just give people opportunity by luck, by waiting for a red flag, waiting for a safety car. You aren't getting a more deserved winner in the end of things.' 'Dangerously slow' driving frustrates Russell Mercedes driver George Russell spent much of his race stuck behind slow cars. Tensions boiled over when he accused Williams' Alex Albon of 'driving dangerously slow' and 'slamming on the brakes' in a terse radio message from Russell to his team. Russell overtook Albon by cutting a chicane, adding he'd rather 'take the penalty' than wait any longer. The stewards had predicted drivers might try that and Russell landed a longer-than-usual penalty which dropped him back behind Albon. Russell finished 11th, his worst result this year. Advertisement Williams wasn't the first team to drop the pace. Its drivers were reacting to an earlier go-slow from Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson held up cars and secured space for his teammate Isack Hadjar to make two stops before many other drivers had made one. In the end, though, none of the more unusual strategies made much difference. Verstappen made his long-delayed second stop and placed fourth, exactly where he'd started. Racing Bulls had little to show for its efforts as Hadjar started fifth but finished sixth. Both Williams drivers stayed in the points after each moved up a spot to ninth and 10th, but that gain was only because Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin broke down. ___ AP auto racing:


Canada Standard
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Canada Standard
(SP)ITALY-IMOLA-AUTO-F1 GRAND PRIX-QUALIFYING SESSION
(250518) -- IMOLA, May 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen (back) of the Netherlands and Williams' driver Alexander Albon of Thailand compete during the qualifying session of the Formula One Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari race track in Imola, Italy, May 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)


Newsweek
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
How to Watch Miami Grand Prix: Live Stream Formula 1, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Formula 1 will kick off its United States run with the first of three races that will take place in the US. The 2025 Miami Grand Prix will hit the track on Sunday with Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the pole. After an eventful Sprint race on Saturday, who will take the victory in Sunday's Miami Grand Prix? Tune in to ABC to find out. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 leads Alexander Albon of Thailand driving the (23) Williams FW47 Mercedes on track during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami... Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 leads Alexander Albon of Thailand driving the (23) Williams FW47 Mercedes on track during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2025 in Miami, Florida. More Photo byHow to Watch the 2025 Miami Grand Prix: Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM ET Channel: ABC, ESPN Deportes Stream: Fubo (Try for free) Saturday's Sprint race began in wet conditions, which led to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashing before making it to the grid. Then, polesitter Kimi Antonelli went wide at the start and dropped back to fourth, ceding the lead to Oscar Piastri. Piastri lost the lead on pit stops, with teammate Lando Norris taking the lead and winning the race while Piastri finished second and Lewis Hamilton came in third. Behind them, the order was a mess, as multiple drivers were penalized, including Alexander Albon, who originally finished fourth but ended up dropping out. Max Verstappen was the last driver to finish the Sprint after a pit incident, but he made up for that in qualifying, running the top lap to take the pole for Sunday's Miami Grand Prix. Norris, whose first career victory came in this race last year, will start second. Tune in on Sunday to watch the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix on ABC, which is available to stream live with Fubo. Live stream the Miami Grand Prix on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.


Newsweek
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Alex Albon Penalty Confirmed After F1 Miami Sprint Race Safety Car Breach
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Williams driver Alex Albon was hit with a five-second time penalty following the Miami sprint race after breaching Safety Car procedures. The Thai-British driver was found to have failed to stay above the minimum time set by the ECU under Safety Car conditions. According to the FIA Stewards, Albon was below the prescribed minimum time in three consecutive sectors at the beginning of the Safety Car period, in violation of Article 55.7 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations. This demotes the driver from P4 to P14. Despite the breach, Albon retained his finishing position, though the time penalty was added after the race concluded. The FIA confirmed in its decision: "The driver of Car 23 was below the minimum time set in the ECU in three consecutive sectors at the beginning of the Safety Car period which is in breach of Art. 55.7 of the Sporting Regulations. Therefore the standard penalty is applied." Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams speaks in the media pen during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 3, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams speaks in the media pen during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 3, 2025 in Miami, Stewards also acknowledged that track conditions were not ideal and confirmed that no unsafe or dangerous situation was created by Albon. As a result, no penalty points were issued alongside the time penalty. Albon and the Williams team were given the opportunity to present evidence, including telemetry and in-car footage, before the decision was finalized.