Would Red Bull Really Consider an Albon Return?

Albon, Red Bull and the Question of a Comeback

As Formula 1 roars back from its summer break, the chatter is not just about Zandvoort and the Dutch Grand Prix. It’s also about driver futures — specifically, whether Red Bull could ever be tempted into bringing back Alex Albon.

The question has been floating around paddock conversations for months. On paper, Albon has shown enough speed at Williams — particularly compared with team-mate Carlos Sainz — to suggest he deserves a second shot with a front-running team. But as is so often the case in F1, things are rarely as simple as the stopwatch makes them seem.

At Williams, Albon has quietly gone about his business, outpacing Sainz more often than not. If you line up the raw numbers, it does imply he sits somewhere between Sainz and Charles Leclerc on the performance scale — a handy place to be. And yet, when you dig into the historical comparisons, the waters get muddy very quickly.

The Problem With Comparing Drivers

F1 fans love nothing more than comparing drivers across eras, across teams, and across contexts. But as history shows, it’s a dangerous game.

Take Sainz himself. Back at Toro Rosso, he was marginally quicker than a very young Max Verstappen in qualifying. At Renault, he was a tick slower than Nico Hulkenberg. At McLaren, he and Lando Norris were neck and neck. And at Ferrari, he fell behind Leclerc — more so than he had against Hulkenberg.

Now at Williams, Sainz is once again just behind his team-mate — this time Albon. By that logic, you could argue Albon is “faster” than Sainz but still not quite at Leclerc’s level. Yet if you accept that conclusion at face value, you’d also have to accept the numbers that suggest Verstappen was slower than Leclerc and only barely quicker than Hulkenberg. That clearly doesn’t stack up when you remember Verstappen had over half a second in hand on Albon when they shared a Red Bull in 2019–20.

Throw Daniel Ricciardo into the equation, and it gets even more confusing. The Aussie beat Vettel in 2014, went toe to toe with Verstappen, and later struggled against Norris. Where does that leave us? Exactly — there’s no straight line through these comparisons.

Why Albon at Red Bull Didn’t Work the First Time

Carlos Sainz holds an F1-branded microphone with Alex Albon stood next to him. Both are wearing Williams t-shirts and caps

Red Bull know this better than anyone. Albon is a talented driver, smooth under pressure, and capable of digging out strong results in a midfield car. But at Red Bull, with a car tuned so specifically around Verstappen’s aggressive style, he struggled.

It wasn’t that Albon was slow — rather, he couldn’t adapt to the unique demands of the Red Bull chassis. The rear instability that Verstappen thrives on made life difficult for Albon, just as it did for Pierre Gasly before him. At a team like Williams, the car balance suits him more, and he looks quicker as a result.

That’s the paradox: the Albon we see now may not be the same Albon we’d see again in a Red Bull seat.

Red Bull’s Current Philosophy

If you’re trying to gauge Red Bull’s future driver policy, there are two words to remember: “We make stars, we don’t buy them.” That line comes directly from Helmut Marko, who remains the key figure in their driver development strategy.

Red Bull have always preferred to back their own academy graduates — think Vettel, Verstappen, and even Ricciardo in his prime. When they stray from that philosophy, results are mixed. Sergio Pérez has delivered crucial stability and points, but he hasn’t seriously challenged Verstappen. Gasly and Albon both faltered under the weight of expectation.

With Christian Horner gone and Laurent Mekies now working alongside Marko, there is some uncertainty about how the decision-making dynamic will evolve. But the fundamental philosophy hasn’t changed: Red Bull want to grow their own champions, not recycle drivers who couldn’t make it the first time.

Would Red Bull Really Want Albon Back?

That’s the million-dollar question. On performance alone, you could argue Albon deserves another shot. His consistency at Williams, his calmness under pressure, and his technical feedback have made him invaluable to the team’s rebuild.

But Red Bull don’t just need speed. They need someone who can push Verstappen without destabilising the whole operation. History suggests that only a generational talent can do that — and Albon, for all his qualities, may not fit that bill.

That said, F1 is unpredictable. Circumstances change. Contracts shift. If Red Bull suddenly found themselves in need of a safe pair of hands who already knows the culture of the team, then Albon’s name would surely be near the top of the list. Just don’t expect it to be Plan A.

The Wider Driver Market Picture

All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of a driver market in flux. Ten races remain in the 2025 season, and the title fight between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris has grabbed the headlines. But behind the scenes, teams are already thinking about 2026, when the new engine regulations arrive.

Red Bull’s strategy will be shaped not just by Verstappen’s dominance, but by how Audi, Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari line up in the new era. Keeping Verstappen happy and competitive is priority number one. Everything else — including the identity of his team-mate — is secondary.

For Albon, that means his focus should remain on Williams, where he has a secure seat, a team that values him, and a platform to showcase his talents without the crushing expectation of going head-to-head with Verstappen.

Conclusion: A Tempting but Unlikely Reunion

So, would Red Bull be interested in an Albon return? The honest answer is: probably not, unless circumstances force their hand.

Albon has rebuilt his reputation brilliantly since leaving the team. He’s faster, stronger, and more confident. But Red Bull’s philosophy, their history with him, and the sheer dominance of Verstappen make a reunion unlikely.

Still, in Formula 1, “never say never” is the only safe bet. If 2026 throws up a surprise, if Red Bull need a proven, reliable operator, then perhaps the door could creak open again. For now, though, Albon looks destined to remain the cornerstone of Williams’ rebuild — and maybe that’s exactly where he belongs.