By 2025, British drivers will have a strong presence in Formula 1, but will it be enough to seize control? If drivers like Lewis Hamilton or Lando Norris have their way, the end of Max Verstappen’s title streak could be imminent. How does Alex Albon view the rise of the British? The Williams driver shares his opinion.
Call him a British Thai or a Thai Brit, but either way, Albon, like his English friends Lando Norris and George Russell, has become an integral part of Formula 1. They form the core of a ‘British wave’, a new generation of drivers consisting of successors to world champion Jenson Button and the less successful Anthony Davidson, Paul di Resta, and Jonathan Palmer.
The latter three are commendable drivers, no doubt about it. But they never became world champions. That is the aspiration of Norris, Russell, and Albon. Add to this the (definitive) arrival of Oliver Bearman to F1 and, of course, the presence of the ever-hungry Lewis Hamilton, who has moved to Ferrari, and there you have it: five of the twenty drivers next year will be part of a British wave that has grown in size and prestige over the past few years – and is only becoming bigger and stronger.”It’s quite special, yes,” says Albon, former teammate of Max Verstappen, when asked. But will the British also take over in Formula 1? “British motorsport is in a very good position at the moment. There are fast drivers and excellent conditions for talents to develop. The ‘grassroots’ are incredibly strong.” In other words, the love, passion, and opportunities for motorsport are deeply rooted in the United Kingdom.
That’s true: nearly all teams are, almost traditionally, based in England. Much of the staff in Formula 1 is British. And the rich history of motorsport is steeped in a hefty dose of Anglo-Saxon influence. But what especially fuels the influx of British talent is the intense competition.
“As a driver, you’re active in a world full of competition from the age of eight in Great Britain,” Alexander Albon explains. “You’re racing against many talents who have come over from mainland Europe. Or those who settle in England from the United States or Asia. It maintains a consistently high level. Whether it makes British drivers better than others, I wouldn’t dare to say. But it results in more British talents who can go for a chance in motorsport.”
