Carlos Sainz’s Williams move could pose a major challenge for Alex Albon, with Johnny Herbert believing it’s a defining test for his career.
Carlos Sainz’s arrival at Williams F1 will be a crucial test for the future of Alex Albon’s career.
That’s the view of former driver Johnny Herbert, who believes this will be the second time—after his Red Bull stint in 2020—that Albon is truly put to the test.
“This season is a big test for Alex Albon,” he said. “This is really where, for the second time, it’s probably the real test. If he doesn’t perform well, it will make his career a little more complicated.”
“Especially if someone like Carlos Sainz arrives—I expect him to be on pace straight away. I know he had issues when he first moved to Ferrari, and it took him a long time to understand how the Ferrari worked. But once he did, we saw how strong he was.”
“Yet people forget those first two years when he really struggled and openly admitted he had difficulties. But when he joined the Williams team in Abu Dhabi, he seemed very comfortable. Very fast.”
According to the Briton, Sainz is even a significant asset for Williams: “As we expect right now, Sainz is full of confidence, and he will be able to use it to his advantage. It’s a great opportunity for Williams to have someone like him.”
“I know Albon has said this is an important time for Williams to take a step forward and put themselves in a much stronger position, both in the constructors’ and drivers’ standings, but he will have to face a huge mental battle against Sainz.”
“Albon has been able to rebuild his career at Williams and enjoys an excellent reputation. But now, he’s up against a guy who has really impressed lately. This will be a test for him. It will be a good thing for Sainz, because if he is at that level, and if both are close to each other, it could push each driver to be better than last year.”
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Sainz to Williams: A Career Roadblock for Albon? Sainz to Williams: A Career Roadblock for Albon? Sainz to Williams: A Career Roadblock for Albon?
