Albon ‘being made to look like an idiot’ by Red Bull - Russell

Williams Formula 1 driver George Russell has leapt to Alex Albon’s defence, adding he is “being made to look like an idiot” by Red Bull.

The Anglo-Thai driver endured a torrid qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix and was eliminated in Q2 as he could only manage the 13th-fastest time.

Albon had complained of poor stability in his RB16 throughout qualifying and was outpaced by Russell’s Williams, as well as teammate Max Verstappen and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, the man he replaced at Red Bull midway through last season. 

But Russell, who described Albon as “one of the best drivers” he has raced against, urged Red Bull to “sort out” whatever seems to the root issue for Albon’s difficult start to the 2020 season.

“I’ve known Alex for the last 15 years, being in the same paddock as him, and he’s one of the best drivers we’ve all raced: Max, Charles, all of us will say it,” Russell told Sky Sports.

“He’s always been at the front in everything he’s done and I don’t know what the hell is going on.

“I feel really bad for him as he’s being made to look like an idiot and he’s absolutely not.

“He’s won in everything he’s done so I don’t know what’s going on, but they need to sort it out for him.”

Albon’s final run in Q2 was hampered by traffic to compound his misery at the Hungaroring.

“It was a bit of everything, obviously I didn’t do a great lap as well,” Albon said of his qualifying struggles.

“We had another lap to fix it. It’s a few things to be honest. We just need to sit with the team and discuss it, and be better prepared for the next time.”