IMOLA, Italy — Alex Albon has said Williams can win races again during his stint with the team, which he has extended to at least 2027 with a newly signed contract.
Albon had previously on a deal until next season, but Williams confirmed his extension on Wednesday.
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It was a ringing endorsement of the Williams project — team boss James Vowles has been frank about how long it might take to transform the former champions back into a competitive entity.
The team was without a spare chassis for the early part of the season and has so far failed to score a point.
Albon said his decision was not based on the here and now.
“I know the team; I know the people in the team. I believe in the project. I believe in James and the board,” Albon said on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Italian circuit Imola.
“I think the ceiling at Williams is higher than what we’re showing at the moment. Clearly, to me, especially around our direct rivals that we’re racing against right now, I think when I look at what the team should be able to achieve in the next few years, it should be higher than the teams we’re racing at right now.”
Albon’s form since joining Williams has made him one of the hottest commodities on the grid, and ESPN sources had previously indicated he was high on Red Bull’s list for 2026, with Albon’s previous contract making a move for 2025 unlikely.
The Thai driver admitted contact with other teams about his future but said he felt a long-term stay with Williams was the right call.
“I won’t say what teams that I was speaking to, but there were a few. Inevitably, it just fell down to what team do I think suited me best and that was Williams. So, looking at everything, there was obviously a lot of time to make a choice.
“It does seem a little bit now like it’s all just kind of being a bit of a waiting game and everyone just kind of delaying, delaying and whatnot. So, on my side, it was just about get it done, get it signed and focus more on building the story and focusing on the future for the team.”
Williams boss Vowles joined from Mercedes in 2023 and has been open at how shocked he was to see the gulf the team had to some of F1’s biggest outfits.
A sweeping change of F1’s regulations in 2026 will open up the possibility of a reset competitive order.
Albon said he believes Williams…
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