The Williams Racing team, partnered by Acronis, has announced that former Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Alexander Albon will partner Nicholas Latifi in the team for the 2022 Formula One season.
The news comes after it was announced that George Russell would be leaving the team at the end of the season to take a seat alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
2022. Bring it on 👊 pic.twitter.com/KzEwbPH0md
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) September 8, 2021
“I am really excited and looking forward to returning to a Formula One race seat in 2022,” commented Albon at the announcement. “When you take a year out of F1 it’s never certain you will make a return so I’m extremely thankful to Red Bull and Williams for believing in me and helping me on my journey back to the grid.
“It’s also been great to see all the progress Williams have been making as a team this year and I look forward to helping them continue that journey in 2022. My focus now returns to my Test & Reserve Driver role at Red Bull and helping the team fight for this year’s world championship.”
Albon has always been one of the most highly rated young drivers in motorsport, having impressed enough with Toro Rosso to land him a prestigious seat at Red Bull, where he took his first podium in the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix after several agonising near misses.
The partnership with Latifi should prove a popular one, the Thai-British racer having previously raced alongside the Canadian at DAMS in Formula Two and both recognised as two of the most likeable on the grid.
“It is fantastic to be able to confirm our driver line-up for 2022 and I am delighted to be welcoming Alex to the team, along with confirming our continued relationship with Nicholas into next year,” added Jost Capito, CEO of Williams Racing. “We are extremely excited by our new line-up, with both drivers bringing a great blend of youth and experience that will not only be a great fit for the team but also help us take the next step in our journey.
"Being a Williams driver feels pretty amazing" 🥳
Who's looking forward to seeing @alex_albon join the team in 2022? 😍 pic.twitter.com/x3n6DsRDAI
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) September 8, 2021
“Alex is one of the most exciting young talents in motorsport, yet comes with a large amount of F1 experience from his time at Red Bull. His multiple podium finishes highlight his speed as a driver, and we know he will immediately feel at home with the team at Grove.”
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NL6 🤝 AA23 pic.twitter.com/fNijt6PFu8
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) September 8, 2021