Williams team principal Jost Capito couldn't be happier having Alex Albon join the team for the 2022 Formula 1 season, and claims the Thai driver has learned a lot during his year on the sidelines.
Albon has big shoes to fill at Williams, as he was hired to replace the highly rated George Russell who switched to Mercedes for 2022, but Capito is happy with what he's seen from his new recruit up to now.
"Alex is settling in fantastically," he told Racer. "I think it is the best that could have happened to the team. But what I was underestimating is what he gained through having a year outside the car."
Albon spent 2021 out of an F1 car, but remained in a reserve role with Red Bull, something Capito feels is paying dividends for the 26-year-old.
"As he worked with Red Bull, he was at most of the races, and he’s seen how the interaction of the driver and team is, and then as he was in the team he’s seen how the drivers could impact the team and how the team reacted, which is something a driver normally doesn’t get. He’s seen then after the meetings, what has gone on in the team, and he benefited a lot from that," the German explained.
Albon knows how to deal with the team much better now
"He’s a very smart guy so he learned a lot from this," he went on. "I think it’s improved his capability of demanding something from the team and getting it done, because he knows how to approach the team, he has seen the different ways of drivers approaching the team and how they got supported. So he learned an awful lot."
Albon's boss claims his driver is relishing the second chance given to him at Williams, and commented: “On the other hand he is very happy to be back in the car, because it’s his second chance.
"And very often the second chance is needed to really get to the full potential," Capito stressed.
The Williams boss also revealed that Russell has actually played in important role in helping Albon settle into his new surroundings, as it was also known that the Briton recommended the Thai to the team as his successor.
"Of course it is a concern with somebody like George leaving, it’s difficult to replace George, there is no doubt," Capito said. "But also George was very complimentary about Alex as they are personally good friends, so when Alex came in and when he signed, he got a lot of information from George as George wants him to do well.
"That also helps of course," he added.
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