Alex Albon explains Williams contract decision despite 'frustrating' year

Alex Albon has opened up about his decision to remain at Williams for the 2027 F1 campaign.

The call comes despite the frustrating period Williams has endured this year, which has seen it slip back in the pecking order.

Williams had long targeted the 2026 regulation reset as an opportunity to make a step forward, but has instead suffered a significant setback, which has caused it to reset its timeline for a return to success.

Despite the challenging campaign thus far, Albon has committed to the team for another season, insisting the blip doesn't dictate how he feels about the team's direction.

“One tough year doesn't paint a full picture of the story that I've had with Williams, and I've seen progress year to year,” Albon said. 

“Of course, it's been a frustrating year so far, but it doesn't make me not believe in this team, and its ambitions, and what I believe the team can achieve.”

RacingNews365 understands that team-mate Carlos Sainz is also nearing an extension with Williams.

With Albon reaffirming his commitment, the Thai driver suggested the current bleak period will help the team stamp out some limitations going forward.

“Even though it's been a tough year, the response of the team back at the factory, and the work that's been put in to understand our issues, has been huge,” Albon said.

“In many ways, it has felt like we've needed this tough moment to really accelerate some of the aggressive plans to fix some core problems within the car that have plagued us for years. 

“I haven’t seen the team sink their teeth into something so aggressively in the way they have this year, so I really do believe we're going to find the reasons why we've been going through these issues.”

Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.

Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar