Helmut Marko rules out Alex Albon’s return for a second ‘shot’ at Red Bull

Helmut Marko closed the door for Alex Albon's return to Red Bull.

Helmut Marko rules out Alex Albon’s return for a second ‘shot’ at Red Bull

Alex Albon and Helmut Marko in the Red Bull garage (image via IMAGO)

Red Bull sacked Alex Albon at the end of the 2020 season after failing to match Max Verstappen. The Thai driver then spent a year on the sidelines before joining Williams in 2022. Since then, the 27-year-old has shown a decent pace at the Grove-based team. However, Red Bull consultant Dr. Helmut Marko clarified that Milton Keynes was not interested in resigning Albon.

Marko was asked if the Thai driver was an option for Red Bull amidst Sergio Perez’s poor results. This would bring Albon back to Milton Keynes as Max Verstappen’s teammate once again. However, the 80-year-old mentioned that Alex Albon already had his shot at the Austrian team. He said, as reported by Sportsmole, “Max’s teammate has a very tough and difficult life. Albon has already had his chance.”

The 80-year-old admitted that Alex Albon had vastly improved since racing for the Milton Keynes-based team. However, Helmut Marko was convinced that no driver is truly capable of racing at the level of Max Verstappen. As such, the door remains closed for the Thai driver. Marko explained, “He has improved remarkably since then, but at the moment there is no driver who is on Max’s level.”

Discover: Who has the most Dutch GP wins?

Alex Albon has a stellar weekend at the Dutch GP

Alex Albon, Dutch GP (image via Autosport)
Alex Albon, Dutch GP (image via Autosport)

Williams has been engrossed in the battle for seventh in the standings this season. However, the Dutch GP weekend proved to be rather different for the Grove-based team as Alex Albon managed to qualify on the second row. Logan Sargeant put his car in the Top 10 for the race start as well. Albon further demonstrated his skills in the race and impressed many in the paddock.

Alex Albon finished P8 in the Dutch GP and brought home some crucial points for his team. Certainly, the Thai driver has proved his worth at Williams and secured his place at the Grove-based team for the long term. However, the 27-year-old would be in high demand from top teams if he can continue such performances in the future, albeit without Red Bull.

Thus, Helmut Marko has shut the door for Alex Albon’s return to Red Bull. The 80-year-old reaffirmed that despite the Thai driver’s recent results, he would not be capable of rivaling Max Verstappen. However, it remains to be seen if Albon can lead Williams to the front of the grid or will the 27-year-old switch to a different team in the future.

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