Williams Racing driver Alexander Albon has admitted to feeling a sense of unease after being given teammate Logan Sargeant’s chassis for the Australian Grand Prix. Albon’s own chassis was written off following a heavy crash in FP1, and with no spare available due to a difficult winter, Williams made the controversial decision to have Albon use Sargeant’s chassis instead. Despite the unusual circumstances, Albon managed to qualify in 12th place, giving him a chance to score points in the race. He acknowledged the responsibility he had been given and expressed his desire to repay Sargeant by securing a good result.
Albon described the experience as both different and strange, acknowledging the pressure of performing well in qualifying while also carrying the weight of responsibility for someone else’s equipment. However, he remained focused on his job and treated the weekend like any other. He believed that the best way to repay Sargeant would be to earn points for the team.
Albon’s impressive performance began in FP3 and continued into qualifying, where he felt he could have squeezed out a little more speed. He noted that it had been a recurring issue for him at Williams, struggling to find extra pace without compromising the durability of the tires. Despite the challenges of the past two days, Albon was satisfied with his 12th place qualifying position, just behind Lewis Hamilton.
Overall, Albon’s ability to adapt to the unfamiliar circumstances and deliver a strong performance showcased his determination and professionalism. He hoped to convert his qualifying result into points for the team, providing a fitting reward for the trust placed in him by Williams and the sacrifice made by Sargeant.
Williams’ decision to remove Sargeant from the Grand Prix in favor of Albon, the driver responsible for the damaged chassis, was based on the fact that Albon has a better chance of scoring points when given the rare opportunity. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Williams to secure a top-10 position in the early stages of the 2024 season, as those spots are typically dominated by Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Aston Martin unless unforeseen circumstances occur. Nevertheless, the Australian Grand Prix from last year demonstrated that chaos can affect any team, and Williams must seize any chance they have to score points. The challenge this weekend is RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, who impressively qualified in eighth place. Albon acknowledges that finishing in the points would be a great achievement, but he is cautious of Tsunoda’s performance for the Faenza-based RB team. Albon recognizes that he will likely not be able to keep up with the Mercedes cars and expects his race to be primarily against Tsunoda. Albon hopes for a chaotic race with multiple red flags, as this would provide an opportunity for Williams to score points.