Amidst Williams’ ongoing struggle with spare parts shortages, Alex Albon remains steadfast, insisting that he is committed to staying focused on the task at hand rather than worrying about the team’s predicament.
Following heavy crashes for both Albon and teammate Logan Sargeant in recent races – in Australia and in Japan – the team has desperately been trying to play catch-up on repairs.
Unfortunately, Williams’ biggest vulnerability remains its lack of a spare chassis, a deficit that won’t be corrected until next month’s Miami Grand Prix.
Despite their limitations, the Grove-based outfit has managed quite remarkably to develop a new front wing for both its drivers for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
It’s a welcome upgrade for Albon, who praised his team for its outstanding efforts following its troubled start to its 2024 campaign.
“It’s been a tremendous effort,” Albon told the media on Thursday in Shanghai.
“I think we’ve been on the backfoot with the crashes and it’s no secret we were already on the backfoot before the crashes.
“So it’s another mighty job as always. We have to rely on the staff back at Grove to pull things together, and they continuously do so. Very, very important, especially coming into a sprint race as well.
“With all the possibilities and whatever can happen this weekend, you want to be as best prepared as possible because races like this, where it’s so unknown, is an opportunity for teams like us.”
While Williams team principal James Vowles expressed concerns that the team’s mounting crash damage could limit future upgrades, Albon remains resolute in his focus when seated in the cockpit.
The Anglo-Thai racer is acutely aware of Williams’ spare parts plight, but insists he’s committed to the immediate task of driving rather than dwelling on potential repercussions should something go wrong.
“You go about your racing, not really thinking about it if I’m totally honest,” said the Anglo-Thai racer.
“Obviously, it’s there, but the moment that you start to think about the lack of parts or the lack of whatever, you might as well stay home.
“You’ve got to attack the weekend, like you do any other weekend. You can’t treat it any differently, you’ve got to be on the limit to feel what the limit is and you’ve got to get a balance for the car.
“So, it’s one of those ones, where you do have to park your brain and just go about racing. It’s normal. You have to still treat the weekends the same.”
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Albon’s resolve: Steering clear of spare parts anxiety at Williams F1i.com.
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