Helmut Marko blames Lewis Hamilton for SHATTERING Alex Albon’s confidence at Red Bull

Alex Albon was mostly underwhelming during his stint at Red Bull, eventually having to move to Williams.

Helmut Marko, Lewis Hamilton and Alex Albon (Credits: The Guardian, SI)

British-Thai driver Alex Albon leaped Red Bull mid-way through 2019 and showed promise early on. However, things didn’t go his way. Helmut Marko attributes Alex Albon’s loss of confidence during his time at Red Bull to Lewis Hamilton’s involvement in two separate incidents. In those incidents, Hamilton and Albon collided, resulting in Albon missing out on potential podium finishes.

In the 2019 Brazilian GP, Alex Albon was on the brink of securing a podium finish. However, a late-race collision with Lewis Hamilton during a restart caused Albon’s car to spin off the track, resulting in a significant drop in his position. Similarly, in the subsequent year’s Austrian GP, his chances of a maiden podium were dashed when Hamilton pushed him into the gravel following a bold overtake attempt. Hamilton received penalties for both incidents, nevertheless crushing Albon’s hopes.

When speaking on the Inside Line F1 podcast, Marko has pointed the finger at Hamilton for Albon’s decline. He said, “He was turned around by Hamilton and that hit his confidence massively. A P2 and a win was on the table.” Albon never seemed to be the same driver for the remainder of his time at Red Bull following the incidents.

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The driver spent a year on the sidelines in 2021 before securing a seat at Williams Racing in 2022, where he seeks to regain the confidence Helmut Marko claims Hamilton shattered.

Alex Albon secured his best result since leaving Red Bull at the Canada GP

Showing resilience and determination, Alex Albon secured a spectacular P7 finish for Williams at Montreal, marking their best result in recent times. Starting from P9 on the grid and initially slipping to P12, Albon utilized the opportunity presented by a Safety Car period to regain his composure and makeup ground. Impressively, he completed an impressive 57-lap stint on hard tires, ultimately earning himself and the team six valuable championship points.

Furthermore, Alex Albon’s outstanding performance earned him the coveted title of “Driver of the Day,” as voted by the fans. This recognition is well-deserved, considering his remarkable perseverance and determination throughout the race. The positive outcome is a strong indication for Williams and Albon, providing them with a solid foundation to build upon in the upcoming races.

Las últimas vueltas de la primera carrera de Austria 2020 fueron una locura, pasó de todo.

Fue increíble ver eso después de tantísimo tiempo sin F1.pic.twitter.com/DJcFFni6fg
— NanoGrifo (@NanoGrifo) June 27, 2023

It also reflects the potential for further progress and success for both the team and the driver. Thus, with this miraculous result, Albon will hope to continue on this trajectory and regain the confidence he may have lost after his podium-depriving altercations with Lewis Hamilton in the past.