0
Alexander Albon said that he went through a similar thought process when he made his debuts for Toro Rosso and Red Bull this year.
Albon was signed up to Toro Rosso for the start of the 2019 season, replacing Brendon Hartley at the Red Bull junior squad, despite having never driven an F1 car before.
After half a season in the Toro Rosso, Albon was promoted to Red Bull ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix in place of Pierre Gasly, who was demoted back to Toro Rosso amid a spell of poor performances.
Albon impressed Red Bull enough to secure a full season alongside Max Verstappen for the 2020 campaign, and almost scored his maiden podium in Brazil last time out before a collision with Lewis Hamilton.
Speaking about his debuts for the two teams this year, Albon says he went through similar feelings when he stepped into both cars for the first time.
"It was similar feelings, similar thoughts processes in terms of t's more just question marks like 'How am I going to do or fare?' with the big boys," Albon said.
"It was the same kind of process before the season even started. Because I've already gone through it, I felt more comfortable the second time, in Spa.
"It's kind of that thing, it's a lot of thinking but once you step in the car and put your helmet on, it all goes away and you focus on your driving."
Albon added that the speed only comes when a driver gets comfortable inside the car and with the team that surrounds him - something that he experienced twice in 2019.
"You're never going to feel completely settled before you drive the car for the first time," the Thai-British driver admitted. "I don't think that exists, but it was very natural.
"The more you feel comfortable with the team, the more of the lap time that comes. It's only normal when you first jump into the car to feel that way.
"Once you get to know the team and the car, that's really where the performance comes from and you start to be able to push and the team in the direction that you want to go."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
23,885 comments on Williams
1 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Alexander Albon
806,525 comments on Red Bull Racing 677 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Red Bull Racing
Replies (0)
Login to reply